Complex Regional Pain Syndromes (Subscribe)  

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) is a clinical syndrome of variable course and unknown cause characterized by pain, swelling, and vasomotor dysfunction of an extremity. This condition is often the result of trauma or surgery. In 1864, Mitchell referred to this malady as causalgia, a Greek word meaning burning pain. Newer...

This chapter outlines a current clinical approach to reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), also called complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS).
Morton Kasdan, M.D. & Thomas S. Higgins, B.A.

Background During the chronic stage of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), impaired microcirculation is related to increased vasoconstriction, tissue hypoxia, and metabolic tissue acidosis in the affected limb. Several mechanisms may be responsible for the ischemia and pain in chronic cold CPRS.
Discussion The diminished blood flow may be caused by either sympathetic...