NURSING PERFORMANCE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF PHANTOM LIMB PAIN IN ADULTS: A SCOPING REVIEW

Abstract

This study identified and characterized nursing care actions and fields of practice in the management of phantom limb pain (PLP) in adults. This is a scoping review based on the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) protocol and the PRISMA-ScR recommendation, analyzing 16 publications indexed in the PubMed/MEDLINE, VHL/LILACS, and Web of Science databases (2020 to 2026). The findings indicate that PLP is a complex and multidimensional phenomenon requiring integrated care. Direct and autonomous nursing role focused on systematic pain assessment using standardized scales, residual limb care and protection, compression therapy, patient education for self-care, and emotional support during body image adaptation. Conversely, non-pharmacological and advanced technological interventions—such as Mirror Therapy, Virtual Reality, transcranial stimulation, cryoneurolysis, and nerve blocks—were mapped predominantly as possibilities for collaborative practice or care coordination by nursing within multidisciplinary settings, associated with reports of symptom relief, anxiety reduction, and rehabilitation support. A major gap in the literature is highlighted by the scarcity of methodologically robust studies capable of isolating the autonomous contribution of nursing actions on reducing PLP incidence and clinical outcomes. It is concluded that nurses play a strategic role in the articulation and humanization of care, underscoring the need for future clinical trials focused on the profession's autonomous practice.