Prednisone for Acute Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Table 2
Detailed methods of assessing CRPS signs by physiatrist.
Sensory
Hyperalgesia was evaluated by increased pain response to pinprick
Allodynia was determined by painful response to light touch
Altered sensation/paresthesia was evaluated by patient noting different sensation following application of the same force on CRPS-affected and non-CRPS-affected area, usually contralateral extremity
Vasomotor
Temperature asymmetry was determined by simultaneous comparison between CRPS-affected and non-CRPS-affected area by clinical observation without specialized equipment
Skin colour changes were determined by visual comparison between CRPS-affected and non-CRPS-affected area
Edema/sudomotor
Edema was determined by observing lack of normal wrinkles, for example, at knuckles as well as generalized swelling
Sudomotor signs (sweating changes or asymmetry) were determined by observing sweating patterns at CRPS-affected region differing from non-CRPS-affected regions
Motor/trophic
Evaluation of range of motion (ROM) was determined by examining the active and passive ROM of all proximal and distal joints of the affected limb
Weakness was determined by decreased strength compared to unaffected side
Decreased or increased tendon reflexes were determined by reflex response to hammer in CRPS-affected region
Increase or decrease in hair growth was evaluated by comparing between CRPS-affected and non-CRPS-affected regions and confirming with the patient that this was not due to nonnatural cause (ie., shaving only one limb)
Increase or decrease in nail growth was determined by comparing between CRPS-affected and non-CRPS-affected regions and confirming with patient this was not due to nonnatural cause (ie., cutting nails on only one side of body)
Skin changes were evaluated by the presence of shiny skin, brawny, or other observed asymmetries
