Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

The term complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) describes a variety of painful conditions, which typically occur distally on an extremity following an initiating event. Characteristically CRPS exceeds the expected clinical course in both magnitude and duration. Clinical manifestations of CRPS include sensory, vasomotor, sudomotor, motor and trophic disorders. The diagnosis of CRPS is purely clinical and based on the modified Budapest criteria. Essential differential diagnoses in the early phase include infections, neurological compression and inflammatory conditions. Although benign courses have been reported, many patients develop a chronic condition with persisting complaints even after 1 year. Therapy is based on a variety of pharmacological, interventional, physiotherapeutic, occupational and psychiatric treatment options.