[Sudeck's disease]

The treatment of Sudeck's atrophy is not easy since there is a constant risk of relapse into the inflammatory stage. The earlier the diagnosis is established, the higher is the likelihood that treatment will be successful. As a rule, dystrophic lapses can be avoided by the use of prophylactic measures, even in patients at risk. Here, the cooperation with the pain therapist or anaesthesiologist is required. I am convinced that, by early infusion treatments or drug therapy for the sedation of sympathetic hyperexcitability, improvements in results can be achieved. It stands to reason that psychological guidance for the patient must be taken into due account.