G., Ghelarducci, L., Ryskalin, C., Marinelli, P., Annoscia, N., Bertozzi, and M., Gesi
Background: Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) type 1 is a rare but disabling pain condition, usually involving distal extremities such as the wrist, hand, ankle, and foot due to either direct or indirect traumas [1,2]. CRPS type 1 is characterized by a complex set of symptoms where no correlation can be identified between the severity of the initial injury and the ensuing painful syndrome [3]. Over the years, numerous treatment strategies have been pro- posed for CRPS management, but therapies still remain controversial. Indeed, at present, there is no successful therapeutic intervention exists for this condition. Questions/purposes: The aim of the present study is to propose and to assess the effectiveness of a rehabilitative treatment algorithm for CRPS, which is actually in use at the Center for Rehabilitative Medicine “Sport and Anatomy” of the University of Pisa. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all the patients that underwent physical rehabilitative treatment algorithm for hand CRPS between 2014 and 2021 at our Institution. Results: All the parameters taken into consideration, namely Purdue Pegboard test (PPT), Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), as well hand oedema recorded with a hand volumeter, were significantly improved at the end of the rehabilitation protocol. Conclusion: The results obtained in the present study demonstrated that early and skillful rehabilitation intervention is of paramount importance for CPRS type 1 management to achieve a stable and optimal functional recovery while preventing the onset of deformities. In addition, our rehabilitation protocol was able to achieve substantial improvement in pain and quality of life scores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]