Introduction:
Phantom limbs in individuals who experience limb loss are characterized by the sometimes-painful experience of feeling an absent extremity subsequent to amputation surgery. Regardless that no conclusive theories have emerged explaining the causes of phantom limb sensation and phantom limb pain, it has been suggested that a neural network within the brain, the body-self neuromatrix, produces an output pattern that evokes the phantom limb. A historical perspective of the evolution of pain theories and their contribution to current trends in pharmacological management of neuropathic pain were examined. Neuromatrix theory along with psychopathological variables as contributors to the phantom limb response was investigated. Finally, contemporary instruments designed to predict the occurrence of phantom pain and the relevance of those instruments to preventing potentially deleterious effects that contribute to phantom pain were considered.

Discussion and Conclusion:
Pertinent statistical representations such as those that revealed common variances among relationships and proportions of significance pertaining to specific domains of experience were examined. Qualities that did not share significant common variance with patient satisfaction indicators were eliminated, while those that did share significant common variance were examined further. Statistical value of the aforementioned indicators were assessed and ranked in order of significance using coefficients of determination revealed through regression analysis. Goals that were met included: (a) determination of levels of post amputation satisfaction for the sample in the major domains of life experience, (b) determination of the extent to which the sample experienced favorable well-being, (c) determination of the extent to which the major domains shared common variance with general well-being and phantom pain, and (d) determination of the proportions of significance of the major domains of life experience and well-being in their prediction of phantom pain.

Materials and Method:
This quantitative correlation study examined relationships among three primary predictor variable scores, general well-being scores, and the scores on a phantom pain survey. The population investigated was those who had experienced lower extremity amputation. Subjects were limited to individuals who had completed initial rehabilitation with a prosthetic limb. The predictor variables examined were (a) physical experience, (b) social experience, (c) emotional experience, and (d) demographic predictors. The Trinity Amputation and Prosthetic Experience Scales (TAPES) were used to assess the three primary predictor variables. The criterion variables, general well-being and phantom pain experience, were operationally defined and measured by the Beck Depression Inventory II and specific questions from the TAPES phantom pain survey. A demographic survey was included and assessed age, gender, diagnostic category, amputation type, and time elapsed since amputation. Correlation analysis determined the extent to which the predictor variables and the criterion variables were related. Multiple regression analysis was used to evaluate variances among the predictor variable scores, general well-being scores, and the phantom pain survey scores.

Results:
Demographic variables were eliminated as significant predictors of general well-being or phantom pain. Physical, social, and emotional experiences of amputation were interrelated and represented 68% of common variance with general well-being. Physical, social, and emotional experiences of amputation were relatively statistically equal in predicting levels of general well-being. The relationship between general well-being and phantom pain was statistically significant at a 95% confidence level. Regression analysis revealed 75% common variance between TAPES scores and depression scores and phantom pain. Proportions of significance revealed social experience to be an important predictor of phantom pain, followed by emotional experience and physical experience.