Complex regional pain syndrome: Difference between revisions

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{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
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| Sensory || allodynia, hyperalgesia
| '''Sensory''' || allodynia, hyperalgesia
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| Vasomotor || temperature asymmetry, skin color changes, skin color asymmetry
| '''Vasomotor''' || temperature asymmetry, skin color changes, skin color asymmetry
|-
|-
| Sudomotor || edema, sweating
| '''Sudomotor''' || edema, sweating
|-
|-
| Motor/trophic || decreased ROM, weakness, tremor, dystonia, trophic changes (hair, nail, skin)
| '''Motor/trophic''' || decreased ROM, weakness, tremor, dystonia, trophic changes (hair, nail, skin)
|}
|}
*There is no other diagnosis that better explains the signs and symptoms
*There is no other diagnosis that better explains the signs and symptoms

Revision as of 07:15, 2 August 2016

Background

Abbreviation
  • CRPS
Other Names
  • Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD)
  • Causalgia
  • Reflex neurovascular dystrophy (RND)
  • Amplified musculoskeletal pain syndrome (AMPS)
Definition
  • Disorder of the extremities characterized by regional pain that is disproportionate in time or degree to the usual course of any known trauma or other lesion
  • Pain is not in a specific nerve territory or dermatome
  • Pain usually has a distal predominance of abnormal sensory, motor, sudomotor, vasomotor, and/or trophic findings
  • CRPS often worsens over time
  • 35% of pts report symptoms throughout their whole body.[1]
Sub-Types
Type I NO evidence of peripheral nerve injury (edema, erythema, numbness), 90% of clinical presentations
Type II YES evidence of peripheral nerve injury, considered more serve type
Causes
  • Generally unknown
  • Inciting event
    • Found in about 90% of cases - usually begin 4-6wks after fxs, crush injuries, sprains, and surgery.[2]
  • Proposed mechanisms
    • Classic inflammation, neurogenic inflammation, and maladaptive changes in pain perception at the level of the central nervous system

Clinical Features

Pain burning, stinging, or tearing sensation that is felt deep inside the limb, usually continuous but can be paroxysmal.[3]
Sensory hyperalgesia, allodynia, or hypesthesia
Motor weakness, occasional tremor, myoclonus, or dystonic postures
Skin warmth, skin color changes, sweating, or edema, other skin/hair/nail changes
Type II CRPS showing skin changes

[4]

Differential Diagnosis

Evaluation

Clinical: Budapest consensus criteria:
  • At least 1 symptom in three of the following four categories:
Sensory allodynia, hyperalgesia
Vasomotor temperature asymmetry, skin color changes, skin color asymmetry
Sudomotor edema, sweating
Motor/trophic decreased ROM, weakness, tremor, dystonia, trophic changes (hair, nail, skin)
  • There is no other diagnosis that better explains the signs and symptoms
R/o Emergent Etiologies
  • XR
  • CBC
  • Ultrasound
Other Imaging
  • CT/MRI/XR are all NOT diagnostic for CRPS[3]

Management

Ketamine for Flare-Ups
  • Ketamine initial bolus - 0.2–0.3 mg/kg of infused over 10mins.[4]
    • Avoid IV push - could cause dissociative side effects.
    • Diagnostic- pain should resolve by the end of the 10min bolus and if so, continue ketamine.
  • Ketamine infusion - 0.2 mg/kg/hr over 4-6hrs.
No discharge prescription usually required. If needed:
  • Ibuprofen - 400-800 mg TID or naproxen 250-500 mg BID[5]
  • Amitriptyline or nortriptyline - 10-25 mg at bedtime as initial dose for both[3]
  • Gabapentin - 100 mg-300 mg at bed time
  • Topical lidocaine cream - 2-5% or topical capsaicin cream 0.075%

Opioids should NOT be used for chronic or acute CRPS. Pt education on this is important.

Disposition

  • Outpatient f/u with pain management
  • Referral for PT/OT - important for all CRPS pts
  • Consider psychiatric referral if warranted

See Also

Acute pain management

External Links

ACEP - Tips for Managing CRPS

NIH - Validation of Budapest Criteria for CRPS

References

  1. Schwartzman RJ, Erwin KL, Alexander GM (May 2009). "The natural history of complex regional pain syndrome". The Clinical Journal of Pain. 25 (4): 273–80. doi:10.1097/AJP.0b013e31818ecea5. PMID 19590474.
  2. Sandroni P, Benrud-Larson LM, McClelland RL, Low PA. Complex regional pain syndrome type I: incidence and prevalence in Olmsted county, a population-based study. Pain 2003; 103:199.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Birklein F, O'Neill D, Schlereth T. Complex regional pain syndrome: An optimistic perspective. Neurology 2015; 84:89.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Ducharme, Jim, MD. "Tips for Managing Complex Regional Pain Syndrome - ACEP Now." ACEP Now. N.p., 11 Sept. 2015.
  5. Harden RN, Oaklander AL, Burton AW, et al. Complex regional pain syndrome: practical diagnostic and treatment guidelines, 4th edition. Pain Med 2013; 14:180.