Perioperative Outcomes of Spinal Cord Stimulator Placement in Patients with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Compared with Patients without Complex Regional Pain Syndrome.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a multifaceted disorder resulting in an abnormal pain response to tissue injury. Among key CRPS features are neurogenic inflammation, maladaptive plasticity, and vasomotor dysfunction, which can result in severe pain and disability. Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is an efficacious treatment for several chronic pain conditions and may improve pain and life quality in CRPS patients with CRPS. However, little information exists regarding perioperative outcomes of patients with CRPS undergoing surgical implantation of an SCS device. METHODS: Patients were included if they underwent an SCS procedure at our institution between 2008 and 2016 for chronic pain. Cases were excluded if the procedure involved stimulator removal or if it was an outpatient procedure. Multivariate regression assessed the effect of CRPS and other clinical variables on perioperative outcomes. RESULTS: Eighty-one inpatient SCS implantation cases for chronic pain were included, with 9 patients (11.1%) having a CRPS diagnosis. The CRPS cohort received higher mean quantities of intraoperative opioids and had a lower proportion of patients reporting meaningful pain reduction (16.7%) in the 24-hour postoperative setting compared with patients without CRPS (35.9%), although this was not statistically significant. Multivariate regression modeling suggested that CRPS was a significant predictor of increased odds of extended time to the postanesthesia care unit discharge (P = 0.0406) and higher direct costs of hospitalization (P = 0.0326). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that CRPS may pose several unique risks in the perioperative period after inpatient SCS implantation. These findings support the need for future prospective investigations examining risks and outcomes for SCS procedures in this population.

Clinical Features of Pediatric Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: A 5-Year Retrospective Chart Review.

OBJECTIVES: Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a painful condition of a limb characterized by a constellation of symptoms. Little is known about the clinical features of pediatric CRPS, with fewer than a dozen studies published to date. The aim of this study was to explore the clinical course of pediatric CRPS, with emphasis on clinical features and disease outcomes. A secondary aim was to discern differences in clinical features of pediatric CRPS with and without related movement disorders, and between children who had a favorable and unfavorable outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We carried out a retrospective chart review of children with CRPS who presented to a pediatric Chronic Pain Clinic in Canada over a 5-year period (2012 to 2016). RESULTS: The study identified 59 children with CRPS (mean age: 12.7±2.5; 74.6% female; 72.9% lower extremity). In total, 87% (n=48) of children experienced complete resolution or significant improvement of CRPS, with a relapse rate of 15%. Overall, 25% (n=15) had a CRPS-related movement disorder. There were no differences in the clinical features of pediatric CRPS with or without related movement disorders. Children who experienced a favorable outcome had a significantly shorter symptom duration at the initial visit in comparison with children who experienced an unfavorable outcome. DISCUSSION: In this cohort, pediatric CRPS was most common in girls around the age of 12, usually in the lower extremity, and most experienced a favorable outcome. Further research is needed to better understand the prognosis and relapse rate of pediatric CRPS.

Shifting brain circuits in pain chronicity.

The evaluation of brain changes to a specific pain condition in pediatric and adult patients allows for insights into potential mechanisms of pain chronicity and possibly long-term brain changes. Here we focused on the primary somatosensory system (SS) involved in pain processing, namely the ventroposterolateral thalamus (VPL) and the primary somatosensory cortex (SI). We evaluated, using MRI, three specific processes: (a) somatotopy of changes in the SS for different pain origins (viz., foot vs. arm); (b) differences in acute (ankle sprain versus complex regional pain syndrome-CRPS); and (c) differences of the effects of CRPS on SS in pediatric versus adult patients. In all cases, age- and sex-matched individuals were used as controls. Our results suggest a shift in concurrent gray matter density (GMD) and resting functional connectivity strengths (rFC) across pediatric and adult CRPS with (a) differential patterns of GMD (VPL) and rFC (SI) on SS in pediatric vs. adult patterns that are consistent with upper and lower limb somatotopical organization; and (b) widespread GMD alterations in pediatric CRPS from sensory, emotional and descending modulatory processes to more confined sensory-emotional changes in adult CRPS and rFC patterns from sensory-sensory alterations in pediatric populations to a sensory-emotional change in adult populations. These results support the idea that pediatric and adult CRPS are differentially represented and may reflect underlying differences in pain chronification across age groups that may contribute to the well-known differences between child and adult pain vulnerability and resilience.

Nociceptive mechanisms involved in the acute and chronic phases of a complex regional pain syndrome type 1 model in mice.

Complex regional pain syndrome I (CRPS-I) is a chronic painful pathology still undertreated. CTK 01512-2 is a recombinant version of the spider peptide Phα1ß, and it functions as a voltage-gated calcium channel blocker and a transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) antagonist with antinociceptive effect in different pain models. Here, we investigate the mechanisms involved in the acute and chronic nociceptive phases of a model of CPRS-I in mice and assess the antinociceptive effect of CTK 01512-2 using this model. Adult male and female mice C57BL/6 (20-30 g) were used to determine mechanical (von Frey test) or cold (acetone test) allodynia induction. Inflammatory parameters (serum and tibial nerve lactate levels, hind paw temperature and edema, or tissue cell infiltration) were evaluated after chronic post-ischemia pain (CPIP, a model of CPRS-I) induction. Anti-inflammatory and anti-neuropathic drugs or CTK 01512-2 were tested. First, we detected that CPIP-induced mechanical and cold allodynia in male and female mice in a similar way. In the acute phase (1 day after CPIP), an increase in inflammatory parameters were observed, as well as the anti-allodynic effect of anti-inflammatory compounds. In the chronic phase (17 days after CPIP), mice exhibited mechanical and cold allodynia, and anti-neuropathic drugs induced antinociception, while no inflammatory alterations were found. CTK 01512-2 reversed the CPIP allodynic effect in both nociceptive phases. Thus, this CPRS-I model can be used to understand the mechanisms involved in CPRS-I induced pain and inflammation. Besides, we observed that CTK 01512-2 has a valuable antinociceptive effect in this pain model.

The Effectiveness of Fluidotherapy in Poststroke Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether combining fluidotherapy to conventional rehabilitation program provides additional improvements on pain severity, upper extremity functions, and edema volume in patients with poststroke complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Training and research hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty hemiplegic patients with subacute stage CRPS type-1 of the upper extremity. INTERVENTIONS: The patients randomly divided into 2 groups. Both groups received a 3 week conventional rehabilitation program (5 days/week, 2-4 hours/day). Experimental group received 15 sessions additional fluidotherapy application to the affected upper extremity (40 °C, 20 minutes in continuous mode, 5 sessions/week). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We evaluated the distal upper arm edema with a volumeter. Other used clinical assessment scales were Brunnstrom recovery stages of the arm and hand for motor recovery, motor items of the functional independence measure for functional status, visual analog scale for pain severity, and the painDETECT questionnaire for presence and the severity of neuropathic pain. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 64.3 ± 11.66 (28-84). At the post-treatment evaluation, significant improvements were revealed regarding to the edema volume, pain visual analog scale, painDETECT and functional independence measure scores, and the Brunnstrom stages of upper extremity and hand in both groups (P < .05). But among the parameters mentioned above, only the decrease in edema volume and the painDETECT scores were greater in fluidotherapy group than the control group (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Addition of the fluidotherapy to the conventional rehabilitation program provides better improvements on neuropathic pain and edema volume in subacute stage poststroke CRPS.

Electroacupuncture for Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy after Stroke: A Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) is the common complication among stroke and cerebral injury patients, which is lack of safe and effective treatment. Electroacupuncture (EA) may potentially be a reliably therapy, but the evidence is insufficiency. METHODS: Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, Embase, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wan Fang Data, the Chinese Biology Medicine disc, etc., were searched, until July 20, 2018. We included random control trials that contrast EA with conventional rehabilitation therapy for the treatment of RSD. Main outcomes were visual analog scale score and Fugl-Meyer upper limb motor function scoring scale, other outcomes such as Barthel index, and hand swelling score were also collected. Data in included studies were extracted into an excel and pooled by Stata/MP 14.1. RESULTS: We incorporated 13 studies involving 1040 RSD patients and outcomes were from 2 to 6 weeks' follow-up. The analgesic effect between 2 groups had statistically significant difference (weighted mean difference [WMD] = -1.122, 95% confidence interval [CI] [-1.682 to -.562], P = .000], a statistical difference existed in improving dysfunction between 2 groups: (WMD = 6.039, 95% CI [2.231-.916], P = .000). EA groups had a better effect on improving activities of daily life abilities (WMD = 12.170, 95% CI [6.657-17.682], P < .00011] and better detumescence effect (WMD = -.800, 95% CI [-1.972 to -.212], P = .000] contrast to conventional rehabilitation therapy. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis supports that EA has a positive effect on alleviating pain, improving limb dysfunction, and promoting activities of daily living. On account of moderate-quality random control trials and high heterogeneity, further high-quality studies are imperative to optimize the EA treatment program.

Incidence of and Risk Factors for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type 1 after Surgery for Distal Radius Fractures: A Population-based Study.

This study aimed to evaluate the incidence rates of and risk factors for complex regional pain syndrome type 1 (CRPS-1) after surgery for distal radius fractures (DRFs). Using data from January 2007 to December 2014, we analysed the data from the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment (HIRA) service. After extracting the data of patients aged ≥18 years whose diagnostic and operation codes for DRFs were entered into the HIRA database, we analysed the incidence rates of and risk factors for CRPS-1. From 2007 to 2014, 172,194 DRFs were treated surgically. Within 1 year postoperatively, 1,103 CRPS-1 cases were diagnosed, with an incidence of 0.64%. On univariate and multivariate analyses, the risk factors that significantly correlated with the incidence of CRPS-1 included female sex, rheumatoid arthritis, open reduction, open fracture, and accompanying ulnar fracture, whereas old age, psychiatric disease, and external fixation were not statistically significant. The incidence of CRPS-1 after surgery for DRF was very low (0.64%) in South Korea. Careful monitoring is necessary for patients with complex fractures and rheumatoid arthritis who are at increased risk of developing CRPS-1.

Compared to limb pain of other origin, ultrasonographic osteodensitometry reveals loss of bone density in complex regional pain syndrome.

Local osteopenia and altered bone metabolism are major complications of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), but quantitative assessment is difficult unless using X-ray or dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Ultrasound-based measurement of bone density (UBD) is a possible alternative but has never been used to detect unilateral disease such as CRPS. Therefore, the main outcome measure of this prospective study was the diagnostic utility of UBD in patients with lower-limb CRPS. Second, we compared the extent of unilateral and contralateral calcaneal bone density to that of other conditions with unilateral pain, general osteoporosis, and healthy subjects. Calcaneal osteodensitometry was bilaterally examined using ultrasound-based methodology. Bone mineral density values were converted to Z-scores based on age- and sex-dependent reference values. All patients completed a functional and an osteoporosis risk questionnaire. In patients with CRPS (n = 18), the bone mineral density values and Z-scores were significantly lower in both the affected (mean ± SD: 0.40 ± 0.08 and -1.1 ± 0.8, respectively) and nonaffected (0.46 ± 0.09 and -0.6 ± 0.9, respectively) limbs than in patients (n = 40) with other unilateral pain syndromes (affected: 0.51 ± 0.1 and -0.2 ± 1.1, respectively; nonaffected: 0.54 ± 0.11 and 0 ± 0.9, respectively) and healthy subjects (right side: 0.6 ± 0.1 and 0.1 ± 0.9, respectively). Conversely, in patients with known systemic osteoporosis, the Z-scores were lower bilaterally with smaller side-to-side differences than in those with CRPS (P < 0.05). Compared with subjects suffering from long-term CRPS (≥2.4 years), patients with shorter disease duration exhibited significantly lower Z-scores (P < 0.05). In conclusion, UBD revealed that CRPS is associated with both local and systemic alterations of bone metabolism.

Sweating disorders in mice with and without nerve lesions.

BACKGROUND: Hypersensitivity and altered sweating are often present in neuropathy patients. Nerve lesions are known to produce sudomotor dysfunctions but also patients suffering from complex regional pain syndrome, CRPS1-a condition without a nerve lesion-present with sweating disorders. METHODS: Using proton nuclear magnetic resonance of sweat water, we quantified sweat output of mice suffering from a nerve lesion or a bone fracture without nerve lesion and correlated their sweating with behavioural paw hypersensitivity accessed in von Frey testings, water applications and weight-bearing measured with an incapacitance metre. RESULTS: Lesioned animals sweat less and are hypersensitive compared to healthy controls, as expected. Fractured animals on the injured side sweat less acutely after the injury but more in the chronic phase. They are hypersensitive acutely as well as chronically after the fracture. These findings resemble human bone trauma patients in the acute phase and CRPS patients in the chronic phase. CONCLUSIONS: Sweating disorders are present both in neuropathic animals and in those with a bone fracture without nerve lesions, and autonomic dysfunctions might be considered as an important component in the aetiology of neuropathies. SIGNIFICANCE: Sweat output changes in mice after bone trauma, potentially indicative of posttraumatic processes leading to CRPS in humans.

Fibromyalgia as a Predictor of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome After Distal Radius Fracture.

Background: Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) can be a devastating complication following extremity injury, but risk factors are not well understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between fibromyalgia and the development of CRPS after distal radius fracture. Methods: The PearlDiver Medicare database was queried using International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision (ICD-9) and Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes for diagnoses and treatments of distal radius fractures. Patients were separated into fibromyalgia and control cohorts, and the prevalence of CRPS was measured at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months from the date of injury or procedure. Demographic factors, treatment modality, and comorbid conditions were analyzed by multivariable logistic regression to reduce confounding and identify additional risk factors. Results: Database queries yielded 853 186 patients diagnosed or treated for distal radius fracture, with 6% having previous diagnosis of fibromyalgia. The prevalence of CRPS following distal radius fracture was increased at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months in the fibromyalgia cohort compared with the control c, with a 1-year incidence of 0.51% compared with 0.20% (odds ratio [OR], 2.54, P < .001). Multivariable logistic regression supported the association, with estimated OR of 2.0 (P < .001). In addition, female gender, surgical or manipulative treatment, and anxiety were positively associated with CRPS, and age >65, diabetes, and heart failure were negatively associated. Conclusions: While the basis of the association between fibromyalgia and CRPS is unknown, our data suggest that it could serve as a useful predictor of CRPS risk, promoting increased vigilance for CRPS symptoms and earlier recognition and treatment, thereby improving patient outcomes.

Bilaterally Reduced Intraepidermal Nerve Fiber Density in Unilateral CRPS-I.

Objective: Findings regarding small nerve fiber damage in complex regional pain syndrome type I (CRPS-I) are not uniform, and studies have not included a matched healthy control group. The aim was to assess intraepidermal nerve fiber density (IENFD) in relation to thermal sensitivity of the same skin areas in CRPS-I patients and a gender- and age-matched healthy control group. Methods: IENFD was investigated in skin biopsies from the CRPS-affected and contralateral limbs of eight CRPS-I patients and from an equivalent site in eight gender- and age-matched healthy controls (HCs). Thermal thresholds (cold/warm detection, cold- and heat-pain detection) were assessed on the affected limb, the matching contralateral limb, and on the equivalent limbs of HCs, and participants rated the intensity of cold/heat and pain to static thermal stimuli (5 °C and 40 °C). Results: IENFD was significantly lower in both the affected and contralateral limbs of CRPS-I patients than HCs, but IENFD did not differ between the affected and contralateral limbs of patients. The heat pain threshold was lower in the affected CRPS-I limb than in HCs, but all other thermal thresholds were similar in both groups. CRPS-I patients rated the cold stimulus as colder and more painful in the affected limb, and the warm stimulus as hotter, bilaterally, than the HCs. Conclusions: CRPS-I may be associated with bilateral small fiber damage, and perhaps small fiber neuropathy and bilateral disturbances in thermo-sensory perception. These disturbances could stem from a systemic response to injury or might increase the risk of developing CRPS-I after physical trauma.

Bisphosphonates in the treatment of complex regional pain syndrome: is bone the main player at early stage of the disease?

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome type 1 (CRPS-1) is a disabling painful disease whose hallmark is pain disproportionate to inciting event. CRPS is also characterized by symptoms and signs, such as vasomotor, sudomotor, trophic and motor changes. Therapeutic approach of CRPS-1 still remains a challenge for clinicians treating a disease with potential heavy consequences on patient prognosis. In the past years, the treatment with bisphosphonates (BPs) has gained some success as confirmed by the results of a number of meta-analyses. The aim of this paper is to point out the pivotal role of bone in CRPS pathogenesis. The efficacy of BPs is likely to be related to bone tissue involvement in the early pathophysiological steps of the disease, as demonstrated by evidences highlighting the central role of bone in the initial phases. Bone can become a source of inflammatory cytokines when triggered by a direct injury. Moreover, peptidergic fibers that innervate both mineralized bone and bone marrow can play a role in triggering or maintaining the microvascular disturbance at bone level. Indeed, bone involvement is consistent with the mineralization disturbance as well as the results of instrumental investigations (e.g., MRI, bone scan). In this regard, an intriguing issue relies on the excellent therapeutic response to BPs treatment of other diseases (e.g., Transient Osteoporosis of the Hip and Regional Migratory Osteoporosis) that share with CRPS-1 some clinical and instrumental features.

Approach to the Patient with Disproportionate Pain.

Faced with a patient who presents with unexplained disproportionate pain, a surgeon may be tempted to diagnose a low pain threshold, malingering, poor coping, anxiety, or other emotional condition. However, a variety of conditions must be ruled out before the orthopedist can prescribe watchful waiting. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging can detect occult fractures, acute spinal conditions or vascular occlusions, but early on are inadequate to diagnose a compartment syndrome, necrotizing fasciitis, or reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD). These diagnoses underpin a pain-out-of-proportion situation whereby the patient presents with disproportionate pain following a sometimes minor trauma with normal imaging studies and otherwise nonspecific presentations. Though these conditions are well described in the literature, investigations of malpractice data reveal a non-negligible prevalence of missed diagnoses for each of these entities. Determining that a patient exhibits otherwise unexplained pain-out-of-proportion situation is the first step in making a timely diagnosis.

Mental load during cognitive performance in complex regional pain syndrome I.

BACKGROUND: Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is associated with deficits in limb recognition. The purpose of our study was to determine whether mental load during this task affected performance, sympathetic nervous system activity or pain in CRPS patients. METHODS: We investigated twenty CRPS-I patients with pain in the upper extremity and twenty age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Each participant completed a limb recognition task. To experimentally manipulate mental load, the presentation time for each picture varied from 2 s (greatest mental load), 4, 6 to 10 s (least mental load). Before and after each run, pain intensity was assessed. Skin conductance was recorded continuously. RESULTS: Patients with CRPS did not differ from controls in terms of limb recognition and skin conductance reactivity. However, patients with CRPS reported an increase in pain during the task, particularly during high mental load and during the latter stages of the task. Interestingly, state anxiety and depressive symptoms were also associated with increases in pain intensity during high mental load. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that high mental load intensifies pain in CRPS. The increase of pain in association with anxiety and depression indicates a detrimental effect of negative affective states in situations of high stress and mental load in CRPS. SIGNIFICANCE: The effects of mental load need to be considered when patients with CRPS-I are investigated for diagnostic or therapeutic reasons.

How a Simple Ankle Sprain Turned Into Neuropathic Pain: Complex Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Versus Erythromelalgia.

A 36-year-old woman sustained a Grade 2 ankle sprain at work. Two days after the injury, the ankle and foot became red and she complained of "intense burning pain." First diagnosed with complex reflex sympathetic dystrophy, the employee was prescribed medications that provided some pain relief; a subsequent temporary nerve block provided additional relief. However, the symptoms returned and she was treated unsuccessfully with surgical sympathectomy. The employee was referred to a neurologist and diagnosed with primary erythromelalgia, a rare pain disorder that can be mistaken as complex reflex sympathetic dystrophy.

Antiallodynic Effects of Bee Venom in an Animal Model of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type 1 (CRPS-I).

Neuropathic pain in a chronic post-ischaemic pain (CPIP) model mimics the symptoms of complex regional pain syndrome type I (CRPS I). The administration of bee venom (BV) has been utilized in Eastern medicine to treat chronic inflammatory diseases accompanying pain. However, the analgesic effect of BV in a CPIP model remains unknown. The application of a tight-fitting O-ring around the left ankle for a period of 3 h generated CPIP in C57/Bl6 male adult mice. BV (1 mg/kg ; 1, 2, and 3 times) was administered into the SC layer of the hind paw, and the antiallodynic effects were investigated using the von Frey test and by measuring the expression of neurokinin type 1 (NK-1) receptors in dorsal root ganglia (DRG). The administration of BV dose-dependently reduced the pain withdrawal threshold to mechanical stimuli compared with the pre-administration value and with that of the control group. After the development of the CPIP model, the expression of NK-1 receptors in DRG increased and then decreased following the administration of BV. SC administration of BV results in the attenuation of allodynia in a mouse model of CPIP. The antiallodynic effect was objectively proven through a reduction in the increased expression of NK-1 receptors in DRG.

Painful swelling after a noxious event and the development of complex regional pain syndrome 1: A one-year prospective study.

BACKGROUND: The timing of diagnosis of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) 1 remains a challenge due to the large heterogeneity of clinical presentations. We describe the distribution and differences in outcomes and clinical manifestations between time points and patient groups with and without CRPS 1 following an initiating event. METHODS: Prospective cohort study with a consecutive registration of patients presenting with painful swelling of the affected extremity after an initiating event and follow-up visits after 3, 6 and 12 months. RESULTS: Forty-two patients were enrolled (37 females, mean age 55.1 years). At baseline, 35 participants (83%, females n = 30) fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for CRPS 1. At 3 months, 19 out of the initial 35 CRPS 1 patients (54%) did not meet the diagnostic criteria anymore. Besides our inclusion criteria of a painful swelling, early manifestations indicating a CRPS 1 primarily include an impaired quality of life (SF-35, EQ5-D), more pain (NRS, MPQ) and restricted range of motion. CONCLUSIONS: CRPS 1 develops within 8 weeks following a noxious event. Although many CRPS 1 patients reach partial remission within the first 3 months, signs and symptoms do not improve significantly at 1 year. In order to identify prognostic risk factors large prospective cohort studies are needed. SIGNIFICANCE: This prospective cohort study follows patients with complaints most suspected for complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) 1. CRPS 1 develops within 8 weeks following a noxious event. Although many CRPS 1 patients reach partial remission within the 3 months, symptoms do not improve significantly at 1 year.

[Spinal cord stimulation in 62 patients: Retrospective evaluation]. / Spinal kord stimülasyonu uygulanan 62 hastanin retrospektif degerlendirilmesi.

OBJECTIVES: Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is used for various indications such as Failed Back Surgey Syndrome, peripheral causalgia, neuropathic pain, complex regional pain syndrome, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, peripheral vascular disease, ischemic heart disease and cancer pain. METHODS: This is a retrospective study. 62 patients applied SCS were included in retrospective study from february 2011-january 2015 in Akdeniz University medicine faculty algology department. We asked about patients' VAS values before and after procedure, analgesic medicine usings, sleep disorders, pleasure after procedure, daily activity improvement and time of going back to work. RESULTS: We found that decrease on the patients' pain severity and improvement on quality of sleep and daily activities. CONCLUSION: As a result; our study and the other studies show that SCS is reliable and effective procedure on chronic pain management.

Physical therapy under hypnosis for the treatment of patients with type 1 complex regional pain syndrome of the hand and wrist: Retrospective study of 20 cases.

Type 1 complex regional painful syndrome (CRPS-1) has a complex physiopathology. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of physical therapy under hypnotherapy to treat this condition. Twenty patients with CRPS-1 at the wrist and hand were evaluated retrospectively: 13 women and 7 men with an average age of 56 years (34-75). Thirteen patients were in the inflammatory phase and 7 in the dystrophic phase. The main endpoints were pain (VAS, analgesic use), stiffness (wrist and finger range of motion), and strength (pinch and grasp). Secondary endpoints were functional scores (QuickDASH, PWRE), patient satisfaction, return to work, and side effects. Results were satisfactory in all cases after 5.4 sessions on average. VAS decreased by 4 points, PWRE-pain by 4.1 points, and analgesic use was limited to paracetamol upon request. Finger and wrist range of motion increased and the QuickDASH decreased by 34 points, PRWE-function by 3.8 points, pinch strength increased 4 points, and grasp strength by 10 points. Return to work was possible in 80% of the cases. All patients were satisfied or very satisfied with the treatment. Physical therapy under hypnosis appears to be an effective treatment for CRPS-1 at the wrist and hand no matter the etiology.