Signs and symptoms in complex regional pain syndrome type I/reflex sympathetic dystrophy: judgment of the physician versus objective measurement.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the relation between the subjectively assessed and objectively measured diagnostic signs and symptoms in complex regional pain syndrome type I (CRPS I) and to quantify their severity.


METHODS
Diagnostic signs and symptoms were recorded in patients suffering from CRPS I of one upper extremity for less than 1 year. Independent assessors measured (a) pain by using four visual analog scales (VAS) and the McGill Questionnaire list of adjectives (MPQ), (b) edema with a hand volumeter, (c) skin temperature with an infrared thermometer, and (d) active range of motion (AROM) with goniometers.


METHODS
Two university hospitals.


METHODS
Ninety-five women and 40 men with CRPS I of one upper extremity.


RESULTS
Four signs and symptoms were diagnosed in 50 patients, and five in the remaining 85 patients. The mean score for present pain intensity was 31.5 mm and that for pain resulting from exertion of the affected extremity was 71.9 mm. A median of 11.5 words was chosen from the MPQ, with the highest number from its evaluative part. The difference in volume between both hands was 30.4 ml. The mean difference in temperature between the two hands was 0.78 degrees C dorsally and 0.66 degrees C palmarly. The largest decrease in mobility was seen in the wrist and fingers; the thumb was relatively less affected and the little finger relatively more affected than the other fingers.


CONCLUSIONS
Bedside evaluation of CRPS I with Veldman's criteria was in good accord with psychometric or laboratory testing of these criteria.
Oerlemans
H M
HM
Allied Health Services, University Hospital Nijmegen, The Netherlands. m.oerlemans@zorg.azn.nl
Oostendorp
R A
RA
de Boo
T
T
Perez
R S
RS
Goris
R J
RJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001132:Arm / Q000503:physiopathology; D020918:Complex Regional Pain Syndromes / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004487:Edema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007600:Judgment; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D010820:Physicians; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012019:Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012881:Skin Temperature