MR imaging of postamputation neuromas

Cases from an amputee rehabilitation clinic were referred for further consideration after physical laboratory examinations failed to reveal causes for postoperative stump pain. Patients were examined with computed tomography and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, and findings were compared with regard to the detection and characterization of soft-tissue abnormalities prevalent in amputees. These included focal infections and scarring in addition to neuromas. Factors accounting for the superiority of MR imaging included differences in spatial resolution between the two techniques and variations in anatomy above and below the knee, in patients' ages, and in the elapsed time since surgery. These factors are analyzed and assessed in this paper