[Three phase bone scintigraphy of reflex sympathetic dystrophy and its change with sympathetic blockade]

We examined three phase bone scintigraphy performed at various stages, covering 13 patients with reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) of limbs. In three patients, changes following sympathetic nerve block were examined. In stage-1, radiation count in the affected limbs increased markedly in phases 1 to 3 as compared with the values in healthy limbs. In stage-2, radiation count decreased in phase-1, showed about the same level in phase-2, and maintained an increased level in phase-3. In stage-3, count decreased in phase-1 and 2, and showed about the same level in phase-3. In patients who received a chemical sympathectomy in its early stage, the count was found to have returned to normal level over a short period of time from phase 1 to 3. Three phase bone scintigraphy was considered useful in understanding the pathologic condition of RSD and follow-up evaluation of treatment mainly consisting of sympathetic nerve block.