EXTRA Study

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Experience of Digital Amputation and Early Rehabilitation Study (EXTRA Study)

• IRAS ID

  351600

• Contact name

  Amelia Swift

• Contact email

  a.swift@bham.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  University of Birmingham

• Duration of Study in the UK

  0 years, 5 months, 24 days

• Research summary

  Digit (finger) amputations are the most common amputation in the world. Digits are important for fine and gross motor skills, and digit amputations reduce people’s ability to carry out activities of daily living and work activities, which greatly impacts psychological wellbeing and quality of life. Moreover, pain can be a major challenge for patients. Pain can arise from phantom limb pain, or it can originate from the amputated stump – either from a residual nerve stump that’s tethered to scar tissue, or due to a neuroma, which occurs when the nerves of the cut limb continue to grow and try to reconnect.
  Pain after digit amputation affects 8% of patients and significantly reduces quality of life. However, despite the severe impact of pain post digit amputation, we currently know very little about patients’ experiences of pain, and current surgical and therapeutic techniques are ineffective at improving pain.
  
  This research will explore the lived experiences of pain of people within the first year post digital amputations. This includes understanding patients’ experiences of the rehab they undergo after amputation, and capturing practical advice / support patients feel they would have benefitted them, that could be added to rehab interventions in the future.

  Potential benefits of the study include improving our understanding of patient’s experiences of pain, which will help to improve surgical and therapy (physiotherapy and occupational therapy) interventions to target the specific problems these patients encounter.

  A descriptive qualitative interview study design will be used. Participants will attend an interview lasting around one hour, either face to face, via telephone or digitally.
  Participants treated at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham receiving care post traumatic digit amputation within the first year of care post amputation will be recruited to the study.

• REC name

  London - Queen Square Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  25/PR/1750

• Date of REC Opinion

  28 Jan 2026

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion