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THE DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT OF POST‐TRAUMATIC PAIN SYNDROMES (CAUSALGIA)
Author(s) -
Thopson Jesse E.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.111
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1445-2197
pISSN - 0004-8682
DOI - 10.1111/j.1445-2197.1979.tb07669.x
Subject(s) - medicine , sympathectomy , dystrophy , reflex , anesthesia , vasoconstriction , surgery , physical therapy , pathology
S mmary There are two major categories of post‐traumatic pain syndroms: (1) causalgia: and (2) mimocausalgia states or reflex sympatheic dystrophy. Vasoconstricition is usually present. Because of the pain, limitation of motion of the extremity occurs, and may result in permanent disability. There is often a great disparity between the apparent trauma and the severity of the pain. sympathetic blocks and sympathectomy are definitive modes of therpy. In a series of 147 patients, 56% required surgical sympathectomy. The rest were treated by blocks, physical therapy, and other medical measures. Eighy‐two percent had excellent relief of pain, 11% had good relief, while 7% had no relief. Thirty‐one percent of patients had residual symptoms resulting from the original injury, or from irreversible occurrences on the basis of pain and trophic changes. Emphasis is placed on early recognition and proper treatment.