Dong MH, Yao YQ, Cao QY, Li Z, Na J. Emerging neural modulation techniques for the management of phantom limb pain: Evidence from randomized controlled trials. World J Orthop 2025; 16(10): 111521 [DOI: 10.5312/wjo.v16.i10.111521]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Jian Na, MD, Professor, Department of Orthopedics, Xuzhou Central Hospital, No. 199 Jiefang Road, Xuzhou 221000, Jiangsu Province, China. najian997@sina.com
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Orthopedics
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Letter to the Editor
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This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Oct 18, 2025 (publication date) through Oct 27, 2025
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World Journal of Orthopedics
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2218-5836
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Baishideng Publishing Group Inc, 7041 Koll Center Parkway, Suite 160, Pleasanton, CA 94566, USA
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Dong MH, Yao YQ, Cao QY, Li Z, Na J. Emerging neural modulation techniques for the management of phantom limb pain: Evidence from randomized controlled trials. World J Orthop 2025; 16(10): 111521 [DOI: 10.5312/wjo.v16.i10.111521]
World J Orthop. Oct 18, 2025; 16(10): 111521 Published online Oct 18, 2025. doi: 10.5312/wjo.v16.i10.111521
Emerging neural modulation techniques for the management of phantom limb pain: Evidence from randomized controlled trials
Ming-Hui Dong, Yu-Qin Yao, Qiong-Yue Cao, Zheng Li, Jian Na
Ming-Hui Dong, Department of Orthopedics, Jinshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 201508, China
Yu-Qin Yao, Qiong-Yue Cao, Zheng Li, College of Health Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou 221000, Jiangsu Province, China
Jian Na, Department of Orthopedics, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou 221000, Jiangsu Province, China
Co-corresponding authors: Zheng Li and Jian Na.
Author contributions: Dong MH drafted the manuscript; Yao YQ and Cao QY participated in drafting the manuscript; Li Z performed language polishing; Na J contributed to conceptualization, reviewing and editing. All authors have read and approved the final version of the manuscript. Li Z and Na J contributed equally to this work as co-corresponding authors. The reasons for designating these authors as co-corresponding authors are as follows: (1) The research was performed as a collaborative effort, and the designation of co-corresponding authorship accurately reflects the distribution of responsibilities and contribution to the study; (2) The designation reflects the diversity of expertise and skills of the overall research team; and (3) These authors contributed efforts of equal substance throughout the research process. In summary, we believe that this designation is fitting for our manuscript as it accurately reflects our team’s collaborative spirit, equal contributions, and diversity.
Supported by the Project of Science and Technology of Xuzhou, No. KC23185.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Jian Na, MD, Professor, Department of Orthopedics, Xuzhou Central Hospital, No. 199 Jiefang Road, Xuzhou 221000, Jiangsu Province, China. najian997@sina.com
Received: July 2, 2025 Revised: July 25, 2025 Accepted: September 10, 2025 Published online: October 18, 2025 Processing time: 106 Days and 23.4 Hours
Abstract
Phantom limb pain (PLP), a common sequela of amputation, affects up to 86% of amputees and significantly impairs quality of life. PLP is thought to stem from complex central and peripheral nervous system plasticity. Current treatments, including pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches, have limited efficacy. Recently, extended reality technologies have emerged as promising tools for PLP management, leveraging immersive sensory input to modulate cortical reorganization. Of note, emerging neural modulation techniques also offer promising alternatives, including peripheral nerve stimulation, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and transcranial direct current stimulation. These approaches demonstrate clinical efficacy in relieving pain, improving functional outcomes and reducing opioid usage. Future research could prioritize large-scale trials to validate the efficacy of nerve stimulation techniques and explore their integration with extended reality technologies for PLP.
Core Tip: Phantom limb pain remains a complex and challenging condition due to its multifactorial neuroplastic origins, with conventional therapies often failing to provide durable relief. Emerging non-pharmacological approaches in recent years include extended reality technologies and neural modulation strategies. The results from randomized controlled trials on peripheral nerve stimulation, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, and transcranial direct current stimulation have demonstrated favorable effects on pain relief and functional improvement and opioid usage reduction. Therefore, these nerve stimulation strategies offer promising alternatives for phantom limb pain management.
