[Treatment of reflex dystrophy with continuous peripheral nerve block]

Physiotherapy is an important part of the treatment of reflex dystrophy or Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)-type I, but this treatment is very painful. We report two cases of reflex dystrophy: a child with recurrent episodes and an adult. Both patients were treated with continuous peripheral nerve block in addition to physiotherapy. The method allows complete pain relief. At follow up (at 2 and 5 months) the results were excellent. By decreasing pain and thereby improving the ability to tolerate physical therapy, this method may have an advantage compared to other treatment modalities.