Risk factors for complex regional pain syndrome in patients with traumatic extremity injury.
BACKGROUND
It is not clear why complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) develops in some patients but not in others, despite similar initiating events. The aim of this study was to investigate risk factors for CRPS in cases who had suffered traumatic upper extremity injury.


METHODS
One hundred sixty-five patients who had suffered a mechanical traumatic injury isolated to their hand or forearm were included in this study. Age, gender, body mass index, tissue types injured, and side of affected forearm/hand were investigated as possible risk factors for CRPS.


RESULTS
CRPS was diagnosed in 84 patients. Female/male ratio was higher in patients with CRPS versus those without. The mean age was higher in patients with CRPS. The affected forearm/hand was the dominant side in 62.9% of patients without CRPS and in 64.2% of patients with CRPS. CRPS incidence was higher in patients with motor nerve injury and in patients with sensory nerve injury. A logistic regression showed that risk for CRPS was higher in patients with motor nerve injury and in females.


CONCLUSIONS
This study indicates that motor nerve injury and female gender are risk factors for CRPS. The prevention measures should be focused mainly on females and patients with motor nerve injury in order to reduce the risk of CRPS.
Department of Physical Medicine And Rehabilitation, Vakif Gureba Training And Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Saliha Eroğlu
SE
Demir
Nihal
N
Ozaras
Safak Sahir
SS
Karamehmetoğlu
Ilhan
I
Karacan
Ebru
E
Aytekin
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001134:Arm Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D020918:Complex Regional Pain Syndromes / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000150:complications; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009046:Motor Neurons; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014947:Wounds and Injuries