Complex regional pain syndrome
- Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), also known as complex regional pain syndrome, Sudeck atrophy, or reflex sympathetic dystrophy, is a condition where painful sensations in a limb are more prolonged or more severe than would be expected
- Classically occurs after trauma, but can occur after other conditions as well
- Clinical features
- Excessive pain
- Hyperesthesia
- Vasomotor problems (hypo/hyperthermia, hypo/hyperpigmentation)
- Stages
- Acute stage (stage I) (within a few weeks of trauma)
- Subacute stage (stage II) (within a few months)
- Chronic stage (stage III) (for years)
- Skin and muscle atrophy
- Constant pain
- Diagnosis
- Triple-phase bone scintigraphy
- Treatment
- Rest/immobilization
- NSAIDs
- Steroids
- Physiotherapy