scholarly journals Atypical presentation of complex regional pain syndrome: neuropathic itching - A case report -

Author(s):  
Syn-Hae Yoon ◽  
Woojong Cho ◽  
Juhan Mun ◽  
Wonyeong Jeong ◽  
Young Do Kim ◽  
...  

Background: In some patients with neuropathic pain (NP), such as complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), itching rather than pain is the main symptom making diagnosis and treatment difficult.Case: We report a case of a 23-year-old man with a history of hypoxic brain damage who presented with pruritus of the left foot and ankle. His left foot was fractured, and he underwent surgery 6 months previously. After the operation and cast application, he developed uncontrolled pruritus, swelling, sweating, and flushing of the left foot skin with limping. On examination, he showed well-known features of CRPS without pain. He was diagnosed with an atypical CRPS with neuropathic itching (NI). With treatment modalities used for NP and CRPS, his pruritus subsided gradually, and the his ankle mobility improved.Conclusions: Unexplained itching can be the main symptom in some CRPS patients. Treatment according to NP can improve symptoms of NI in CRPS patients.

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Punit Pruthi ◽  
Pramod Arora ◽  
Manoj Mittal ◽  
Anugrah Nair ◽  
Waqia Sultana

Venipuncture is one of the most commonly done medical procedures. We report a unique case of a 23-year-old young male who presented with features suggestive of inflammatory arthritis. The symptoms, which initially started on the right side, also involved the other side after a few weeks. Although the patient’s symptoms and signs were simulating inflammatory arthritis, he had atypical features like poor response to anti-inflammatory medicines and normal laboratory parameters. His musculoskeletal ultrasonography was also not suggestive of arthritis. His history was reviewed and on direct questioning he revealed a history of venipuncture for blood sample withdrawal, done from right antecubital region for routine health check on the day prior to the onset of symptoms. Complex regional pain syndrome was suspected and triple-phase radioisotope bone scan was done which was highly suggestive of this diagnosis. The patient was managed with multidimensional approach and responded very well to the treatment. Complex regional pain syndrome is usually not thought of in the initial differential diagnosis of inflammatory arthritis. In this report we highlight the need to elicit the often overlooked history of trivial trauma like venipuncture, especially in atypical cases of arthritis. Also the role of newer diagnostic modalities in such cases is emphasized.


Author(s):  
Peyman Shirani ◽  
Ali Jawaid ◽  
Paolo Moretti ◽  
Elham Lahijani ◽  
Alicia R. Salamone ◽  
...  

Background:The etiology of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is unknown. Different environmental and genetic factors have been postulated to contribute to CRPS.Methods:We reviewed the clinical data from a cohort of 69 patients with CRPS. Four families were identified with two or more members affected with CRPS yielding a total of nine patients. Six more patients reported the presence of pain symptoms in their family members, however; this could not be clinically confirmed.Results:The case histories of the nine individuals with ‘familial’ CRPS suggested a younger age at onset and more frequent history of migraine versus the non-familial patients. A pattern of inheritance could not be ascertained.Conclusion:This data supports the hypothesis that CRPS can be familial and hence may have a genetic basis in some families. Larger studies will be needed to ascertain clearer patterns of inheritance and to determine whether the clinical features of ‘familial’ CRPS are the same as the sporadic form.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rita Katznelson ◽  
Shira C. Segal ◽  
Hance Clarke

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a treatment that delivers 100% oxygen at increased atmospheric pressures. The efficacy of HBOT for treating pain has been described in various animal pain models and may have clinical efficacy in the treatment of human chronic pain syndromes. We present our experience with posttraumatic Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) type 2 in a patient who underwent 15 sessions of HBOT. A 41-year-old male with one-year history of CRPS of left foot followed by left ankle fracture demonstrated less pain, decreased swelling, less allodynia, and improvement in skin color and range of motion of the lower limb after 3 weeks of HBOT. Patient was back to work for the first time in over a year. HBOT may be considered as a valuable therapeutic tool in the treatment of long-standing CRPS.


2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 84-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ellen S. Satteson ◽  
Patrick W. Harbour ◽  
L. Andrew Koman ◽  
Beth P. Smith ◽  
Zhongyu Li

AbstractBackground and purposeComplex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a challenging complication after surgery or trauma. This study sought to determine the incidence of CRPS after a second inciting event in a previously unaffected extremity in patients with a history of an ongoing CRPS diagnosis in another extremity.MethodsA retrospective review identified patients with CRPS seen in clinic over a 20-month period. The incidence of CRPS after subsequent surgery or injury in a previous unaffected extremity was determined and compared to an average incidence reported in the literature.ResultsNinety-three patients had a diagnosis of primary CRPS. Nineteen (20.4%) developed CRPS in one or more additional extremity compared to the incidence of 23.4 per 100,000 (0.0234%) in the literature (odds ratio 1069.6, p < 0.0001,95% CI 562.0–2035.7). Twenty patients had a documented secondary injury or surgery in a second extremity. Fifteen (75%) developed secondary CRPS compared to a CRPS incidence rate of 6.4% following distal radius fracture, as determined by literature review (odds ratio 11.7, p < 0.001, 95% CI 5.9–23.2).ConclusionsThese result suggest that patients with a history of CRPS are more likely to develop secondary CRPS compared to the rates reported in the literature among the general population.ImplicationsPatients with a history of CRPS should be counselled that they may be at risk for developing secondary CRPS if they undergo surgery or sustain trauma to another extremity.


2016 ◽  
Vol 3;19 (3;3) ◽  
pp. E487-E493
Author(s):  
Shaik Ahmed

Background: Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is a form of neuromodulation, used to treat chronic neuropathic pain refractory to conventional medical management. Spinal cord stimulators are treatment options when intractable chronic pain has not responded to more conventional treatment modalities. Currently, the use of SCS is contraindicated in pregnancy. Nevertheless, many SCS/ neuromodulation recipients are women of child bearing age who may become pregnant. There are no published reports that focus on the possible side effects of SCS or neuromodulation therapy on human fertility, fetal development, pregnancy, delivery, or lactation. Objectives: The purpose of this current report is to present a case study on the use of SCS/ neuromodulation during pregnancy. Study Design: Presentation of the case of a 24 year old female who became pregnant after receiving an SCS implantation for pain control secondary to complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). The SCS was in use at the time of conception but deactivated when patient became aware of her pregnancy and intermittently reactivated for five minute intervals throughout the entire pregnancy. Results: Currently very little documented evidence is available regarding the safety of using a SCS/ neuromodulator during pregnancy; therefore its use during pregnancy is contraindicated. Available literature suggests that, women who have chosen to keep the SCS/neuromodulator activated during pregnancy have delivered healthy babies without any life threatening complications. Limitations: Case presentations do not provide conclusive evidence of treatment effectiveness. This data is only preliminary and future studies should be used to assess outcomes and measures to provide quantification of the SCS implantation during pregnancy. Conclusions: Women of child bearing age who are recipients of SCS/neuromodulation implantation should be informed of the limited knowledge available regarding the impact of SCS/ neuromodulation use during pregnancy. For current recipients, decisions about ongoing use during pregnancy should be an individual decision based on the potential risks and benefits. Key words: Pregnancy and complex regional pain syndrome, pregnancy and reflex sympathetic dystrophy, pregnancy and spinal cord stimulators, pregnancy and electromagnetic fields, and pregnancy and neuromodulator.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 2473011417S0000
Author(s):  
Abduljabbar Alhammoud ◽  
Ghalib Ahmed

Category: Ankle, Trauma Introduction/Purpose: Ankle fracture is one of the most common orthopedics injuries. Poor functional outcome, residual pain and discomfort is a major burden to the patients daily activities Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is one of serious complication after orthopedics injuries .The incidence of CRPS is 0.3% after foot and ankle surgery. CRPS is well studied in wrist fracture. Vitamin C has been proposed to improve outcomes after a distal radius fracture by promotion of bone and soft-tissue healing and reducing the prevalence of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). We aim to detect the effect of vitamin C on the functional outcome, post op pain, incidence of CRPS, wound healing and fracture healing after an ankle fracture Methods: Prospective, Double blind, Randomized control study of 110 subjects (55 subjects in each group). Subjects in study group will receive 500 mg vitamin C for 50 days and standard of care, whereas control group will receive the stander of care alone. Subjects with age from 18-50 years old, with ankle fracture which treated surgically will be recruited, whereas open fracture, Peripheral vascular disease, Allergy to Vitamin C will be excluded. Subjects will be followed up in regular basis for one year. Primary end point will be diagnosis of CRPS and secondary end point will be failure of initial management Results: Although CRPS is more common in wrist injuries comparing to ankle injuries, subclinical of CRPS is more common after ankle fracture. Vitamin C showed promising results in decrease the incidence of CRPS in distal radius fracture. Literature lack of studies looking for CRPS and foot and ankle fracture without high evidence of effect of vitamin C on the functional outcome and post op pain after ankle fractures. Conclusion: We assume that vitamin C will improve functional outcome, decrease post op pain, decrease the incidence of CRPS and improve wound and fracture healing.


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