Ultrasound-guided steroid injection to the residual limb stalk facilitated the treatment of a painful above-knee residual limb neuroma

Abstract

© 2016 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. Background: A post-amputation neuroma can cause chronic persistent residual limb pain in amputees. Painful neuromas are difficult to identify with clinical examination alone because most of them are deeply buried. Findings: We presented a patient with pain over his left above-knee residual limb, aggravating 40 years after amputation. The pain originated from a previously undetected neuroma and was relieved following a single dose of ultrasound-guided steroid injection to the neuroma stalk. Conclusion: Ultrasound is beneficial for differentiating the cause of residual limb pain and a single corticosteroid injection targeting the neuroma stalk appeared effective for pain relief.