title: Musculoskeletal Ultrasonography in CRPS: Assessment of Muscles Before and After Motor Function Recovery with Dry Needling as the Sole Treatment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Motor impairment is an important criterion in the Clinical Diagnostic Criteria (CDC) of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome type-1 (CRPS-1) as defined by International Association for Study of Pain (IASP).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the changes in musculoskeletal ultrasonography (MSKUSG) in CRPS-1 before and after treatment with ultrasound-guided dry needling (USGDN) in retrospective data from 44 patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients irrespective of age, gender, or cause of CRPS were included in this retrospective data analysis; the Budapest criteria for the diagnosis of CRPS were stringently adhered to.
  
  
  METHODS
  The analysis was done at Ashirvad Institute for Pain Management and Research with the database of CRPS patients who were treated between December 2005 and December 2014.
  
  
  METHODS
  The CDC, range of motion at upper extremity joints, dynamometry, Disability of arm, shoulder and hand score (DASH) and ultrasonography were documented on days one, 15, and 45. MSKUSG demonstrated loss of myoarchitecture and reduced bulk.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All 44 patients received USGDN as the sole intervention with medications and physiotherapy. MSKUSG at 15 and 45 days after starting USGDN showed a return of normalcy to the myoarchitecture and muscle bulk increase that coincided with the disappearance of CDC and a progressive and predictable improvement of the DASH scores in all the 44 patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The analysis focuses on only 2 parameters: the musculoskeletal changes of the forearm flexors and extensors on ultrasound guidance and the efficacy of the dry needling treatment. It is not a comparative study with another accepted form of treatment or intervention. We have not looked into the age and gender predilection of the condition owing to the small sample size of the study. Analysis of long term maintenance of relief and rehabilitation of the disability were limited to one year.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Myofascial pathology of co-contraction appears to cause CDC of CRPS and probable ischemic loss of myoarchitecture. Relief of co-contraction with USGDN allowed resolution of tenosynovitis causing the CDC and return of normal myoarchitecture.
authors.affiliation: Ashirvad Institute for Pain Management and Research, Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: Lakshmi Champak
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Vas
authors.affiliation: Ashirvad Institute for Pain Management and Research, Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: Renuka
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pai
authors.forename: Manorama
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pattnaik
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001132:Arm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D020918:Complex Regional Pain Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000379:methods*