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The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Abstract

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a syndrome that develops infrequently in patients that experience a minor or severe trauma to a bodily extremity. CRPS has two subtypes; Type-I and II, both are clinically characterized by hyperalgesia. During its acute stage, CRPS hyperalgesia is clinically characterized by edema in the subcutaneous tissues of the epidermis, allodynia, and localized bone resorption. In the later chronic stage, hyperalgesia is aroused by the disregulation of blood flow to the extremity and permanent dystonic and trophic changes to the skin. Because the epidemiology and central causation of CRPS remains unknown until today, health professionals are challenged to diagnose and treat its unique and changing presentations as they appear. This approach, has led to a plethora of tests and treatments that address the syndrome as it presents its clinical features. This paper is an in-depth review of available treatment modalities and surmise the efficacy of the treatments based the quality of the available research. By reviewing the effectiveness of some of the currently available treatment modalities we may gain some understanding of this enigmatic syndrome.

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