Pseudodystrophy at the lower limb in children

The authors describe a 12-year old girl with a painful syndrome at the distal side of the left leg, resulting in limping, incapacity and severe muscle atrophy. Full investigation - no inflammatory laboratory signs, diffuse osteoporosis at the left leg, decreased bone mineral content at the same place, marked hypofixation on bone and vascular scintigraphy - suggested pseudodystrophy (5), which is often induced by psychological factors. Successful treatment was obtained by physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, slight doses of NSAID and psychological assistance. With regard to recent literature, the authors believe that reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) in children is often over-diagnosed, since there are no recognised criteria for diagnosing RSD. Besides the clinical picture, changes on radiography (focal osteoporosis) and on scintigraphy (disturbed vascular scintigraphy with increased pooling in the initial phase and hyperfixation on bone scintigraphy) are necessary. When these are not available, pseudodystrophy is a more correct diagnosis.