NCT06719245

Brief Summary

The goal of this study is to compare postamputation pain (phantom limb pain and residual limb pain) one year postoperatively in patients who received a lower extremity amputation (LEA) with standard nerve handling (neurectomy) versus those who received Targeted Muscle Reinnervation (TMR). Patients between 18 and 75 years old, scheduled for an LEA (transfemoral to transtibial) as a primary or secondary sequela of vascular disease, are randomized into standard neurectomy or TMR. TMR is a frequently studied surgical technique and prevents neuroma formation by rerouting a cut mixed nerve end to a functional motor nerve. The investigators hypothesize that TMR during amputation surgery will significant improve PostAmputation Pain (PAP), quality of life, participation in family life and society, and reduction of health-related costs. Participants will be asked to complete multiple online questionnaires postoperatively regarding these outcomes at five evaluation moments (at 2 weeks, and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months).

Trial Health

77
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
203

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for not_applicable

Timeline
21mo left

Started Dec 2024

Typical duration for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

7 active sites

Status
recruiting

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Progress45%
Dec 2024Jan 2028

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

July 12, 2024

Completed
5 months until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

December 5, 2024

Completed
26 days until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

December 31, 2024

Completed
3 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

January 1, 2028

Expected
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

January 1, 2028

Last Updated

September 19, 2025

Status Verified

September 1, 2025

Enrollment Period

3 years

First QC Date

July 12, 2024

Last Update Submit

September 15, 2025

Conditions

Keywords

TMRAmputationPhantom painNeuroma

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

  • Postoperative residual limb pain

    Postoperative residual limb pain will be scored on the 11-point (0-10) Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) for 30 consecutive days in a pain diary. A higher score indicates more pain.

    at 12 months

  • Postoperative phantom limb pain

    Postoperative phantom limb pain will be scored on the 11-point (0-10) Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) for 30 consecutive days in a pain diary. A higher score indicates more pain.

    at 12 months

  • Postoperative pain behavior

    Postoperative pain behavior will be scored using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Pain Behavior Short Form 7a. The results will be scored on a scale from 7 to 35 points, with a higher score indicating that pain has a greater influence on behavior.

    at 12 months

  • Postoperative pain interference

    Postoperative pain interference will be scored using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Pain Interference Short Form 8a. The results will be scored on a scale from 8 to 40 points, where a higher score indicates greater interference of pain with daily life

    at 12 months

Secondary Outcomes (15)

  • Postoperative residual limb pain

    at 3, 6, and 9 months

  • Postoperative phantom limb pain

    at 3, 6, and 9 months

  • Postoperative pain behavior

    at 3, 6, and 9 months

  • Postoperative pain interference

    at 3, 6, and 9 months

  • Neuropathic pain

    at 12 months

  • +10 more secondary outcomes

Other Outcomes (3)

  • Surgical time

    at 0 months

  • Length of hospital stay

    at 0 months

  • Adverse events

    30 days postoperative

Study Arms (2)

Standard Neurectomy (control)

OTHER

Standard Neurectomy during amputation (control)

Procedure: Standard neurectomy

Targeted Muscle Reinnervation (intervention)

OTHER

Targeted Muscle Reinnervation (TMR) during amputation (intervention)

Procedure: Targeted Muscle Reinnervation (TMR)

Interventions

In short: each transected nerve is identified after amputation and is dissected proximally for length. A nerve stimulator is used to identify functional motor nerve branches. Near the point where the motor branch enters the muscle, the motor nerve branch is transected and an end-to-end coaptation is performed with a nearby amputated nerve.

Targeted Muscle Reinnervation (intervention)

During the amputation a standard neurectomy will be performed based on the surgeons preference. Standard neurectomy will include cutting of the nerve, with or without traction, with or without coagulation, and with or without infiltration with a local anesthetic (i.e., ropivacaine) or phenol. Ligation of the nerve will not be allowed.

Standard Neurectomy (control)

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years - 75 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Patients aged between 18 and 75 years old.
  • Scheduled for a transtibial, through-knee, or transfemoral amputation as a primary or secondary sequela of vascular disease.

You may not qualify if:

  • Insensate limbs at the level of amputation.
  • Complex Regional Pain Syndrome.
  • Existing neuroma or prior neuroma surgery in the affected limb.
  • Undergoing radiotherapy on the affected limb.
  • Cognitive impairment, or delirium at the time of consent.
  • Patients who are unfit for general anesthesia.
  • No nerve surgeon trained in the TMR procedure is available

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (7)

Amsterdam University Medical Center

Amsterdam, North Holland, 1105 AZ, Netherlands

NOT YET RECRUITING

Isala Zwolle

Zwolle, Overijssel, 8025 AB, Netherlands

NOT YET RECRUITING

Leiden University Medical Center

Leiden, South Holland, 2333 ZA, Netherlands

RECRUITING

Alrijne Zorggroep

Leiderdorp, South Holland, 2353 GA, Netherlands

NOT YET RECRUITING

Erasmus Medical Center

Rotterdam, South Holland, 3015 GD, Netherlands

NOT YET RECRUITING

Haaglanden Medisch Centrum

The Hague, South Holland, 2512 VA, Netherlands

NOT YET RECRUITING

University Medical Center Utrecht

Utrecht, Utrecht, 3584 CX, Netherlands

NOT YET RECRUITING

Related Publications (26)

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  • Valerio IL, Dumanian GA, Jordan SW, Mioton LM, Bowen JB, West JM, Porter K, Ko JH, Souza JM, Potter BK. Preemptive Treatment of Phantom and Residual Limb Pain with Targeted Muscle Reinnervation at the Time of Major Limb Amputation. J Am Coll Surg. 2019 Mar;228(3):217-226. doi: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2018.12.015. Epub 2019 Jan 8.

    PMID: 30634038BACKGROUND
  • Frantz TL, Everhart JS, West JM, Ly TV, Phieffer LS, Valerio IL. Targeted Muscle Reinnervation at the Time of Major Limb Amputation in Traumatic Amputees: Early Experience of an Effective Treatment Strategy to Improve Pain. JB JS Open Access. 2020 May 6;5(2):e0067. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.OA.19.00067. eCollection 2020 Apr-Jun.

    PMID: 33123667BACKGROUND
  • Malessy MJA, de Boer R, Munoz Romero I, Eekhof JLA, van Zwet EW, Kliot M, Dahan A, Pondaag W. Predictive value of a diagnostic block in focal nerve injury with neuropathic pain when surgery is considered. PLoS One. 2018 Sep 12;13(9):e0203345. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0203345. eCollection 2018.

    PMID: 30208078BACKGROUND
  • Deeyor ST, Kisana HM, Hui CH, Stecher C, Hustedt JW. Targeted Muscle Reinnervation Does Not Increase the Risk of Postsurgical Complication or Overall Cost. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2022 Aug 24;10(8):e4488. doi: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000004488. eCollection 2022 Aug.

    PMID: 36032374BACKGROUND
  • Schwingler PM, Moman RN, Hunt C, Ashmore Z, Ogletree SP, Uvodich ME, Murad MH, Hooten WM. Prevalence of postamputation pain and its subtypes: a meta-analysis with meta-regression. Pain Rep. 2021 May 4;6(1):e918. doi: 10.1097/PR9.0000000000000918. eCollection 2021.

    PMID: 33981935BACKGROUND
  • Poyntz SA, Hacking NM, Dalal M, Fowler S. Peripheral Interventions for Painful Stump Neuromas of the Lower Limb: A Systematic Review. Clin J Pain. 2018 Mar;34(3):285-295. doi: 10.1097/AJP.0000000000000533.

    PMID: 28678059BACKGROUND
  • Dumanian GA, Potter BK, Mioton LM, Ko JH, Cheesborough JE, Souza JM, Ertl WJ, Tintle SM, Nanos GP, Valerio IL, Kuiken TA, Apkarian AV, Porter K, Jordan SW. Targeted Muscle Reinnervation Treats Neuroma and Phantom Pain in Major Limb Amputees: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Ann Surg. 2019 Aug;270(2):238-246. doi: 10.1097/SLA.0000000000003088.

    PMID: 30371518BACKGROUND
  • Berger LE, Shin S, Haffner ZK, Huffman SS, Spoer DL, Sayyed AA, Franzoni G, Bekeny JC, Attinger CE, Kleiber GM. The application of targeted muscle reinnervation in lower extremity amputations: A systematic review. Microsurgery. 2023 Oct;43(7):736-747. doi: 10.1002/micr.31030. Epub 2023 Mar 2.

    PMID: 36864779BACKGROUND
  • Walsh AR, Lu J, Rodriguez E, Diamond S, Sultan SM. The Current State of Targeted Muscle Reinnervation: A Systematic Review. J Reconstr Microsurg. 2023 Mar;39(3):238-244. doi: 10.1055/s-0042-1755262. Epub 2022 Aug 21.

    PMID: 35988579BACKGROUND
  • Chang BL, Hill AL, Mondshine J, Harbour PW, Episalla NC, Attinger CE, Kleiber GM. Primary Targeted Muscle Reinnervation in Above-Knee Amputations in Patients with Unsalvageable Limbs from Limb-Threatening Ischemia or Infection. J Reconstr Microsurg. 2024 Feb;40(2):109-117. doi: 10.1055/a-2086-0395. Epub 2023 May 4.

    PMID: 37142250BACKGROUND
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    PMID: 29053875BACKGROUND
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  • de Bruijn ME, Arts CH, van de Meent H, Frolke JP. Management of the sciatic nerve during transfemoral amputation: a survey of Dutch surgeons. J Cardiovasc Surg (Torino). 2020 Aug;61(4):467-470. doi: 10.23736/S0021-9509.19.10733-1. Epub 2019 Mar 27.

    PMID: 30917649BACKGROUND
  • Tendijck GAH, van Schaik J, Dijkman RR, Niesters M, van Zwet EW, van den Hout WB, Ploeg AJ, van Rijt WG, de Ruiter GCW, Coert JH, Duraku LS, Zuidam JM, van de Water W, Pondaag W, van der Krogt H, Groen JL; PreventPAP consortium. Prevention of postamputation pain with targeted muscle reinnervation (PreventPAP trial): protocol for a national, multicentre, randomised, sham-controlled trial. BMJ Open. 2025 Nov 4;15(11):e105053. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-105053.

Related Links

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Phantom LimbNeuroma

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Perceptual DisordersNeurobehavioral ManifestationsNeurologic ManifestationsNervous System DiseasesPain, PostoperativePostoperative ComplicationsPathologic ProcessesPathological Conditions, Signs and SymptomsSigns and SymptomsPainNerve Sheath NeoplasmsNeoplasms, Nerve TissueNeoplasms by Histologic TypeNeoplasms

Study Officials

  • Justus L Groen, MD PhD

    Leiden University Medical Center

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Justus L Groen, Md PhD

CONTACT

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
SINGLE
Who Masked
OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
Purpose
PREVENTION
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
MD PhD

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

July 12, 2024

First Posted

December 5, 2024

Study Start

December 31, 2024

Primary Completion (Estimated)

January 1, 2028

Study Completion (Estimated)

January 1, 2028

Last Updated

September 19, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-09

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will share

By embracing the FAIR principles (Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability and Reusability of digital assets), we underscore our commitment to robust, transparent, and ethically sound scientific practices that advance research integrity and propel scientific progress. Using the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) Data Management Tool, with support of the LUMC section of Advanced Data Management we ensure that our data is findable, enabling easy discovery through well-structured metadata and standardized identifiers. Through our commitment to accessibility, we guarantee that both researchers and the broader community can access our data with minimal barriers, fostering collaboration and knowledge dissemination. Interoperability remains a focal point, as we structure our data in standardized formats and utilize established vocabularies, facilitating seamless integration with other datasets and tools. Our dedication to reusability ensures that the data generated through our trial

Shared Documents
STUDY PROTOCOL
Time Frame
After completion of the study, the key file will be archived in the hospital's study documentation on a protected location on the network hard drive for 15 years in accordance with article 17 of the European good clinical practice directive.
Access Criteria
Before acquiring the deidentified individual patient data used in the results of the published work related to this protocol (incl. tables, figures, supplementary files), researcher must sign a data sharing agreement. Data will made available to those who submit a reasonable request with a methodologically sound proposal.

Locations