Comparison of multiple against single pain intensity measurements in complex regional pain syndrome type I: analysis of 54 patients.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the comparison of multiple and single pain ratings in patients with complex regional pain syndrome type I (CRPS I).


METHODS
Correlation, agreement, and reliability analyses were performed between the average pain intensity measured 3 times a day over a course of 4 days and one single pain rating (designated the "recalled average" pain, as assessed by the patient) before treatment and at 1-, 3-, and 6-month periods after treatment.


METHODS
The patient population consisted of 54 patients with CRPS I in a randomized trial.


RESULTS
The results show that both measurements correlate and have excellent agreement. Furthermore, both ratings measure significant pain reduction after treatment; "recalled average" pain, however, reflects greater change in pain intensity.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with CRPS I a single pain rating is an accurate predictor of the average pain measured by a multiple pain-rating test. Moreover, both assessments are accurate enough to determine changes in pain over time with an effective treatment.
Department of Anesthesiology, Pain Management and Research Center, University Hospital Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands. TFOR@sane.azm.nl
Tymour
T
Forouzanfar
Marius
M
Kemler
Alfons G H
AG
Kessels
Albere J A
AJ
Köke
Maarten
M
van Kleef
Wilhelm E J
WE
Weber
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D012019:Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012955:Societies, Medical; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome