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Venipuncture Induced Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Presenting as Inflammatory Arthritis
Punit Pruthi1, Pramod Arora2, Manoj Mittal3
1Department of Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, Asian Institute of Medical Sciences, Faridabad, India.
Case Reports in Medicine
|November 29, 2016
Summary
A young male with symptoms mimicking inflammatory arthritis was diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome after a venipuncture. This case highlights the importance of considering minor trauma, like blood draws, in atypical arthritis presentations.
Area of Science:
- Medical Case Report
- Rheumatology
- Pain Management
Background:
- Venipuncture is a common medical procedure.
- A 23-year-old male presented with symptoms simulating inflammatory arthritis.
- Atypical features included poor treatment response and normal initial diagnostics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report a unique case of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) initially presenting as inflammatory arthritis.
- To emphasize the importance of considering venipuncture as a potential trigger for CRPS.
- To highlight diagnostic challenges and the utility of advanced imaging.
Main Methods:
- Clinical case presentation and detailed patient history.
- Diagnostic workup including musculoskeletal ultrasonography.
- Triple-phase radioisotope bone scan for diagnosis confirmation.
Main Results:
- Musculoskeletal ultrasonography and laboratory tests were unremarkable for arthritis.
- Triple-phase radioisotope bone scan strongly suggested complex regional pain syndrome.
- The patient showed significant improvement with a multidimensional management approach.
Conclusions:
- Complex regional pain syndrome should be considered in the differential diagnosis of atypical inflammatory arthritis.
- Eliciting a history of minor trauma, such as venipuncture, is crucial.
- Advanced imaging modalities play a vital role in diagnosing challenging cases.
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