{"id":2849,"date":"2024-03-27T09:09:06","date_gmt":"2024-03-27T09:09:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/centre-for-trials-research\/?p=2849"},"modified":"2024-03-28T16:10:35","modified_gmt":"2024-03-28T16:10:35","slug":"limb-loss-and-limb-difference-awareness-month-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/centre-for-trials-research\/limb-loss-and-limb-difference-awareness-month-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"

-By Sarah Milosevic and Grace Young<\/p>\n

April is Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness month<\/strong>. Losing a limb is a life-changing event. The number of people undergoing leg amputation surgery in the UK has risen from 3,260 in 2019 to 3,430 in 20221<\/sup>. This increase in the number of leg amputations performed has been highlighted as a cause for concern, given the impact that the loss of a limb has on patient well-being1<\/sup>. Management of pain after leg amputation surgery can impact patient recovery, including their quality of life2,3<\/sup>. Therefore, good pain management is important for favourable short- and long-term patient outcomes, including satisfaction with care, rehabilitation potential, and quality of life following leg amputation surgery4<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

\"PLACEMENT<\/figure>\n

The Perineural Local Anaesthetic Catheter After Major Lower Limb Amputation Trial (PLACEMENT)<\/strong> has been designed for people undergoing leg amputation surgery with the help of our Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) Representatives. At the time of their leg amputation surgery, participants will be randomised to receive a perineural nerve catheter (PNC) or not receive a PNC. All participants will receive other pain management as needed. A PNC is a thin plastic tube, placed next to the main leg nerve which is dissected during amputation surgery. Participants randomised to have the PNC placed will have a local anaesthetic infused through the PNC for the first five days after leg amputation surgery. PLACEMENT will evaluate if the use of a PNC with local anaesthetic infusion affects the amount of pain participants experience compared to no PNC, and assess the effect of PNC use on participant satisfaction of pain management, and their recovery at 3 and 6 months, including chronic pain and quality of life. A sample of PLACEMENT participants will also be invited to be interviewed by our Qualitative Researchers. This will help us find out about their experiences of recovery following amputation (including the support they had or would have found useful), experiences of taking part in the PLACEMENT trial and experiences of and preferences for different methods of pain control.<\/p>\n

Since opening for recruitment in October 2023, an advisory group of PPI members has been formed. \u00a0The <\/strong>PLACEMENT PPI Advisory Group <\/strong>met for the first time in February 2024, attended by six people with lived experience of amputation. Group members provided constructive feedback on questions for the trial patient interviews. Resulting improvements to the interview guide included simplifying questions relating to pain relief and adding questions about support and information following amputation. Information about life after amputation was highlighted as a key issue, and group members are keen to create an information resource for new amputees. After the meeting, the attendees of the first advisory group provided their feedback via an anonymous online questionnaire:<\/p>\n