Virtual Integrated Environment in Decreasing Phantom Limb Pain (VIE)

The purpose of this study is to determine if observing a virtual arm decreases phantom limb pain (PLP) in upper extremity amputees.

Nearly all traumatic limb amputees will experience cognizance of a phantom limb and perceive a vivid impression that their lost limb is not only fully present, but also painful. The John Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory Virtual Integration Environment (VIE) is a highly flexible and adaptable virtual reality system that allows patients to observe movement of a 3D virtual arm. Using the VIE, recorded signals from the residual limb will be correlated to the desired motion of the phantom limb. We hope to correlate the consistency of these patterns with PLP to determine if increased control of the phantom limb leads to decreased PLP.

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Inclusion Criteria:

• Male or female subjects, active duty military, beneficiary, or retiree
• Written informed consent and written authorization for use or release of health and research study information
• Unilateral upper-limb amputation at any time prior to enrollment
• No prior history of vertebral disk disease/condition, sciatica, or radiculopathy
• Normal neurological examination with the exception of limb amputation
• Ability to follow study instructions and likely to complete all required visits
• Experiencing any phantom sensation

Exclusion Criteria:

• Presence of mild to severe traumatic brain injury - permanent or temporary impairments of cognitive, physical, and psychosocial functions with an associated diminished or altered state of consciousness - as indicated by neuropsychological screening that is currently performed routinely on patients by the TBI program at WRNMMC and noted in the patient's medical record.
• Known uncontrolled systemic disease
• Participation (either concurrently or in the 30 days prior to enrollment) in another study for treatment of PLP
• Any condition or situation that, in the investigator's opinion, may put the subject at significant risk, confound study results, or interfere significantly with the subject's participation in the study.
• Significant Axis I or II diagnosis determined by a neurologist or psychiatrist in the 6 months prior to entry into the study
• Subjects with lack of effort as determined by the neurologist or psychiatrist. Subjects will be screened for effort using the Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM) in order to exclude those with blatant exaggeration or malingering. Subjects who score lower than 42/50 on the TOMM-2 will not continue in the study