CRPS type I psychological origin-case report

The complex regional pain syndrome type I (CRPS I)-formerly named Sudeck's atrophy or reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD)-describes a complex of symptoms with chronic, poorly controllable pain, autonomic, sensomotor and trophic alterations. It is mainly caused by trauma or surgery. We describe the rare case of a spontaneous manifestation of a CRPS I in an adolescent patient with typical clinical and radiological findings and the recurrence of symptoms after a one-year symptom-free interval. Symptoms were resolved by an intense multimodal therapy concept. The likely psychosocial origin in this case is discussed. Clinical appearance, diagnostic means and therapy of the CRPS are described.