Gan D, Wang SY, Liu K, Zhang SY, Huang H, Xing JH, Qin CH, Wang KY, Wang T. Innovative exploration of phantom limb pain treatment based on extended reality technology. World J Orthop 2025; 16(6): 107422 [DOI: 10.5312/wjo.v16.i6.107422]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Tao Wang, MD, Chief Physician, Professor, Trauma Center, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, No. 389 Xincun Road, Putuo District, Shanghai 200065, China. wt@daychina.net
Research Domain of This Article
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
Article-Type of This Article
Minireviews
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
World J Orthop. Jun 18, 2025; 16(6): 107422 Published online Jun 18, 2025. doi: 10.5312/wjo.v16.i6.107422
Innovative exploration of phantom limb pain treatment based on extended reality technology
Di Gan, Shi-Yuan Wang, Kun Liu, Shi-Yu Zhang, Hui Huang, Jia-Hui Xing, Chun-Hui Qin, Kai-Yang Wang, Tao Wang
Di Gan, Kun Liu, Hui Huang, Kai-Yang Wang, Tao Wang, Trauma Center, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200065, China
Shi-Yuan Wang, Department of Computer Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, Anhui Province, China
Shi-Yu Zhang, Jia-Hui Xing, Chun-Hui Qin, Department of R and D, Shanghai Reacool Medical Technology Co., Ltd, Shanghai 200041, China
Co-first authors: Di Gan and Shi-Yuan Wang.
Co-corresponding authors: Kai-Yang Wang and Tao Wang.
Author contributions: Gan D designed the research and wrote the manuscript; Wang SY analyzed the data, made the tables and reviewed the manuscript; Liu K, Zhang SY, and Huang H searched the literature and summarized the data; Xing JH and Qin CH drew the figures and reviewed the technique issues; Wang KY and Wang T supervised the research and reviewed the manuscript; all of the authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript to be published.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Tao Wang, MD, Chief Physician, Professor, Trauma Center, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, No. 389 Xincun Road, Putuo District, Shanghai 200065, China. wt@daychina.net
Received: March 24, 2025 Revised: April 17, 2025 Accepted: May 23, 2025 Published online: June 18, 2025 Processing time: 87 Days and 5.1 Hours
Abstract
Phantom limb pain (PLP) is not only a physical pain experience but also poses a significant challenge to mental health and quality of life. Currently, the mechanism of PLP treatment is still unclear, and there are many methods with varying effects. This article starts with the application research of extended reality technology in PLP treatment, through describing the application of its branch technologies (virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality technology), to lay the foundation for subsequent research, in the hope of finding advanced and effective treatment methods, and providing a basis for future product transformation.
Core Tip: Phantom limb pain (PLP) is one of the most common complications of amputation. Extended reality (XR) has advantages of being a noninvasive, nonpharmacological treatment. We review the application of XR in treating PLP. We explore the potential of virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality in alleviating pain and improving psychological status and quality of life of patients with PLP. We highlight the latest advances and future research directions, providing a theoretical basis for developing more effective treatment strategies.
