Complex regional pain syndrome 1--the Swiss cohort study.
BACKGROUND
Little is known about the course of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome 1 and potential factors influencing the course of this disorder over time. The goal of this study is a) to set up a database with patients suffering from suspected CRPS 1 in an initial stadium, b) to perform investigations on epidemiology, diagnosis, prognosis, and socioeconomics within the database and c) to develop a prognostic risk assessment tool for patients with CRPS 1 taking into account symptomatology and specific therapies.


METHODS
Prospective cohort study. Patients suffering from a painful swelling of the hand or foot which appeared within 8 weeks after a trauma or a surgery and which cannot be explained by conditions that would otherwise account for the degree of pain and dysfunction will be included. In accordance with the recommendations of International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF model), standardised and validated questionnaires will be used. Patients will be monitored over a period of 2 years at 6 scheduled visits (0 and 6 weeks, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months). Each visit involves a physical examination, registration of therapeutic interventions, and completion of the various study questionnaires. Outcomes involve changes in health status, quality of life and costs/utility.


CONCLUSIONS
This paper describes the rationale and design of patients with CRPS 1. Ideally, potential risk factors may be identified at an early stage in order to initiate an early and adequate treatment in patients with increased risk for delayed recovery.
Department of Physical Medicine and Rheumatology, Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland. florian.brunner@balgrist.ch
Florian
F
Brunner
Lucas M
LM
Bachmann
Ulrich
U
Weber
Alfons G H
AG
Kessels
Roberto S G M
RS
Perez
Johan
J
Marinus
Rudolf
R
Kissling
D015331:Cohort Studies; D020918:Complex Regional Pain Syndromes / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012107:Research Design; D012307:Risk Factors; D012923:Social Class; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome