Objective: To compare targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR) to “standard treatment” of neuroma excision and burying into muscle for postamputation pain. Summary Background Data: To date, no intervention is consistently effective for neuroma-related residual limb or phantom limb pain (PLP). TMR is a nerve transfer procedure developed for prosthesis control, incidentally found to improve postamputation pain. Methods: A prospective, randomized clinical trial was conducted. 28 amputees with chronic pain were assigned to standard treatment or TMR. Primary outcome was change between pre- and postoperative numerical rating scale (NRS, 0–10) pain scores for residual limb pain and PLP at 1 year. Secondary outcomes included NRS for all patients at final follow-up, PROMIS pain scales, neuroma size, and patient function. Results: In intention-to-treat analysis, changes in PLP scores at 1 year were 3.2 versus −0.2 (difference 3.4, adjusted confidence interval (aCI) −0.1 to 6.9, adjusted P = 0.06) for TMR and standard treatment, respectively. Changes in residual limb pain scores were 2.9 versus 0.9 (difference 1.9, aCI −0.5 to 4.4, P = 0.15). In longitudinal mixed model analysis, difference in change scores for PLP was significantly greater in the TMR group compared with standard treatment [mean (aCI) = 3.5 (0.6, 6.3), P = 0.03]. Reduction in residual limb pain was favorable for TMR (P = 0.10). At longest follow-up, including 3 crossover patients, results favored TMR over standard treatment. Conclusions: In this first surgical RCT for the treatment of postamputation pain in major limb amputees, TMR improved PLP and trended toward improved residual limb pain compared with conventional neurectomy. Trial Registration: NCT 02205385 at ClinicalTrials.gov.

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Musculoskeletal fibromatoses represent a wide spectrum of fibroblastic and myofibroblastic neoplasms with similar pathologic appearances and variable clinical behavior. These lesions can be categorized by location (superficial or deep) or by the age group predominantly affected. Superficial fibromatoses in adults (palmar and plantar) and children (calcifying aponeurotic fibroma, lipofibromatosis, and inclusion body fibromatosis) are often small slow-growing lesions; their diagnosis is suggested by location. Deep fibromatoses in adults (desmoid type and abdominal wall) and children (fibromatosis colli and myofibroma and myofibromatosis) are frequently large and more rapidly enlarging; location of these lesions may be nonspecific. Radiographic findings typically are nonspecific. Cross-sectional imaging (ultrasonography, computed tomography, or magnetic resonance [MR] imaging) reveals lesion location, extent, and involvement of adjacent structures for staging and evaluation of local recurrence. MR imaging findings of predominantly low to intermediate signal intensity, nonenhancing bands of low signal intensity on long repetition time MR images that represent collagenized regions, and extension along fascial planes ("fascial tail" sign) add specificity for diagnosis. Additional features that aid in diagnostic specificity include an abdominal wall location related to pregnancy (abdominal wall fibromatosis), a lower neck location in a young child (fibromatosis colli), an adipose component (lipofibromatosis), or multiple lesions in young children (myofibromatosis). Treatment may be conservative or surgical resection, depending on the specific diagnosis. Local recurrence is common after surgical resection owing to the infiltrative growth of these lesions. Recognition that the appearances of the various types of musculoskeletal fibromatoses reflect their pathologic characteristics improves radiologic assessment and helps optimize patient management.

Level III, therapeutic study. See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Level II, prognostic study. See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Heterotopic ossification following trauma-related amputation is more common than the literature would suggest, particularly following amputations that are performed within the initial zone of injury and those that are due to blast injuries. Many patients are asymptomatic or can be successfully managed with modification of the prosthesis. For patients with refractory symptoms, surgical excision is associated with low recurrence rates and decreased medication requirements, with acceptable complication rates.

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Prognostic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.