Dorsal Root Ganglion Size in Patients With Complex Regional Pain Syndrome of the Lower Extremity: A Retrospective...

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a debilitating chronic condition characterized by severe, nociplastic pain along with various other symptoms. Neuromodulation, particularly electrical stimulation of the dorsal root ganglion (DRG), has emerged as a promising intervention for patients with CRPS unresponsive to conventional treatments. However, little is known about the anatomical characteristics of DRGs in patients with CRPS. This study aimed to assess DRG size in patients with CRPS compared with healthy controls.

A retrospective pilot study was conducted in 12 patients with unilateral lower extremity CRPS who have a history of lumbar magnetic resonance imaging, and evaluated DRG sizes bilaterally. Patients were age-, race-, and sex-matched to patients in the control group who were asymptomatic at matched spinal level. DRG sizes were evaluated by a neuroradiologist. Statistical analyses including paired t-tests were performed to compare the difference in DRG size in contralateral sides in patients with CRPS and their matched controls.

Patients with CRPS exhibited a statistically significant reduction in DRG size on the affected side compared with the unaffected side (4.4 mm-4.8 mm, respectively). This difference was significant when compared with the difference observed in healthy controls (4.9 mm-5.0 mm, respectively). In addition, the mean DRG size difference between the affected and unaffected side showed a greater difference in DRG size in patients with CRPS (0.6 mm difference) than in control patients (0.2 mm difference).

The findings suggest that CRPS is associated with a smaller DRG size in affected dermatomes, potentially indicating neuronal atrophy. Importantly, the study offers insights for DRG stimulation therapy especially among concerns for DRG compression after placement. This pilot study reveals a significant size difference in DRGs between affected and unaffected sides in patients with CRPS compared with controls, highlighting potential implications for treating CRPS. Further research is warranted to validate these findings and explore implications for clinical practice, including optimized neuromodulation strategies.