Interventional Modalities to Treat Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a debilitating pain condition that often requires a multidisciplinary approach including medication, physical therapy, occupational therapy, psychological therapy, and interventional procedures to restore the patient's quality of life. This article reviews the interventional treatments for pain resulting from CRPS.

Sympathetic nerve blocks (stellate ganglion and lumbar sympathetic) are the first-line interventional treatment options for patients with CRPS of the upper and lower extremities, respectively. Fluoroscopic techniques for lumbar sympathetic blocks have not significantly changed throughout the years. However, both novel fluoroscopic and ultrasound approaches to stellate ganglion blockade have arisen. In addition, novel neuromodulation therapies to treat CRPS have been developed to include new waveforms with dorsal column stimulation and entirely new nerve targets such as dorsal root ganglion stimulation. This paper will review the latest interventional treatment options available for the treatment of CRPS.