Every year in France, 9,000 children undergo limb amputation.

These children experience the triple punishment: they have cancer, they have had a limb amputated and the amputated limb continues to cause them pain.

Thanks to fundamental research, 2 medical teams from Necker hospital in Paris discovered a molecule capable of preventing phantom pain and carried out a pilot study with child amputees.

The results of this study are significant: in 60 children, the pain almost disappeared without any side effects.

The average pain of these children went from 6/10 before starting treatment to 0.8/10 in one month.

It is essential to launch a randomized placebo-controlled study to confirm the researchers' hypothesis and the use of topical treatment with Amitriptyline (AMT).

This molecule is usually used orally in the treatment of depression.

Here the tests will be carried out with AMT in the form of a cream and will concern a larger sample within the Necker Hospital.

La Fondation La Petite Etoile is participating in this clinical research project whose goal is to understand the mechanisms of phantom pain in children with cancer who have undergone limb amputation.

Place of intervention : Hôpital Necker Enfants Malades

Budget : € 60,000/year over 3 years

Co-participants : Fondation La Petite Etoile Foundation, Fondation AnBer, Fondation Lifento, Private donors, Imagine Institute, Hôpital Necker.

Budget provided by Fondation La Petite Etoile : € 6,000