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Reflex sympathetic dystrophy in quadriplegia: case report.

S F Wainapel, M M Freed

    Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
    |January 1, 1984
    PubMed
    Summary

    Quadriplegic patients may develop reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), a painful condition affecting the hand. Early diagnosis and conservative management can resolve RSD, even in spinal cord injury patients.

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    Area of Science:

    • Neurology
    • Pain Management
    • Rehabilitation Medicine

    Background:

    • Spinal cord injury (SCI) can lead to complex neurological complications.
    • Abnormal sympathetic nervous system activity can manifest in the extremities following SCI.
    • Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) is a recognized but rarely reported complication in SCI patients.

    Observation:

    • A patient with quadriplegia presented with severe, localized, unilateral hand pain.
    • Clinical signs indicated abnormal sympathetic hand activity.
    • The patient was diagnosed with reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD).

    Findings:

    • The diagnosed reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) in the quadriplegic patient was successfully treated with conservative management.
    • The co-occurrence of RSD and spinal cord injury is exceptionally rare in medical literature.
    • This case highlights a potential, albeit infrequent, complication of SCI.

    Implications:

    • Unexplained extremity pain in spinal cord injury patients warrants thorough evaluation for reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD).
    • Considering RSD in the differential diagnosis for painful syndromes post-SCI is crucial for appropriate patient management.
    • Further research may elucidate the mechanisms linking spinal cord injury and reflex sympathetic dystrophy.

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