title: Thoracoscopic sympathectomy in the management of vasomotor disturbances and complex regional pain syndrome of the hand.
abstract: Complex regional pain syndrome, vasospastic disorders, and hyperhidrosis are chronic and debilitating upper extremity problems. Twenty-nine consecutive patients treated with thoracoscopic sympathectomy are presented. Diagnoses included complex regional pain syndrome, hyperhidrosis, Buerger's disease, Raynaud's disease, and peripheral vascular disease. All patients with hyperhidrosis had complete symptom resolution. Patients with Buerger's and Raynaud's disease had excellent/good results. Six patients with complex regional pain syndrome had excellent or good relief; the remaining six patients had varying degrees of recurrence. A statistically significant association was noted between duration of complex regional pain syndrome prior to sympathectomy and outcome. Thoracoscopic sympathectomy is an effective treatment for hyperhidrosis and vasospastic disorders. Although the results for complex regional pain syndrome are not uniformly excellent, this technique offers promise in the treatment of this difficult problem.
authors.affiliation: Division of Orthopedic, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3945, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rizzo
authors.forename: S Scott
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Balderson
authors.forename: David H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Harpole
authors.forename: L Scott
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Levin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D020918:Complex Regional Pain Syndromes / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006225:Hand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013562:Sympathectomy / Q000379:methods*; D013906:Thoracoscopy; D014666:Vasomotor System