Complex regional pain syndrome. Reflex sympathetic dystrophy and causalgia

Abstract

Complex regional pain syndromes (CRPS) occur as the inadequate response to painful trauma in a distal extremity. With CRPS I (sympathetic reflex dystrophy), no lesion of the nerve is present. Aside from sensory disturbances, burning deep spontaneous pain and mechanical allodynia are characteristic. Disturbances in the skin blood circulation, sweating, edema, and trophic disturbances of the skin, joints, and bones are typical. Reduction in muscle strength, tremor, and late dystonic changes comprise the motor disturbances. All symptoms are distributed in the distal extremity and not limited to the region of the peripheral nerves. Complex regional pain syndrome II (causalgia), develops following a partial peripheral nerve lesion. The distally generalized symptoms are identical. Successful therapy depends on an early start of interdisciplinary treatment. In addition to the pain therapy, physiotherapy plays a decisive role in rehabilitation. During the acute phase, freedom from pain at rest and retrogression of the edema must be achieved. With slight spontaneous pain, a conservative therapeutic method may be applied (analgesics, rest, raised position). In case of insufficient improvement and in difficult cases, the effect of intervention (sympathetic blockade) should be tested and possibly a blockade series performed. After reduced spontaneous pain, physiotherapy should be increased stepwise.