[Algodystrophic syndrome in hemiplegia. Clinical and therapeutic study]

The work here exposed is divided in two studies: clinical and therapeutical. 1--Clinical. The occurrence of shoulder hand syndrome has been studied in 130 patients with hemiplegia. Although the preventive treatment was correct in all cases, 90 of them developed neurodystrophy. It is shown that the appearance and the intensity of this syndrome can be predicted with some certainly as soon as three weeks after the onset of hemiplegia, since there is a statistically significant correlation with the aetiology and the existence of some associated factors. 2--Therapeutical. The efficacy of eight treatments (calcitonin, blocking agents, intravenous clomipramine, blocking agents, periarterial injections of local anaesthetics, local or general corticotherapy, physiotherapy, kinesitherapy), randomly given to the patients, was compared (90 patients and 130 treatments). Local corticotherapy was the most efficient treatment. Physiotherapy was less efficient but always well tolerated. All the other treatments were much less active. Kinesitherapy was however always necessary to prevent joint ankylosis. No correlation was found between the intensity of the shoulder hand syndrome and the efficacy of treatments.