Complex regional pain syndrome type I: efficacy of stellate ganglion blockade

This study was performed to evaluate the treatment of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) type I with stellate ganglion blockade.

We performed three blockades at weekly intervals in 22 patients with CRPS type I in one hand. The patients were divided into two groups depending on the time between symptom onset and treatment initiation. Group 1and 2 patients had short and long symptom-onset-to-treatment intervals, respectively. Pain intensity, using a visual analog score (VAS), and range of motion (ROM) for the wrist joint were assessed before and 2 weeks after treatment and were compared using nonparametric statistical analysis.

Treatment produced a statistically significant difference in wrist ROM for all patients (P < 0.001). VAS values showed an overall decrease from 8 +/- 1 to 1 +/- 1 following treatment, and there was a significant difference in VAS value between groups 1 and 2 (P < 0.05).

We concluded that stellate ganglion blockade successfully decreased VAS and increased ROM of wrist joints in patients with CRPS type I. Further, the duration between symptom onset and therapy initiation was a major factor affecting blockade success.