Usefulness of thermography in the diagnosis and classification of complex regional pain syndrome

Abstract

Introduction: We propose a protocol for study of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) based on a battery of quantitative measures (skin thermography, electrochemical skin conductance and sensory thresholds) and apply such protocol to 5 representative cases of CRPS.

Patients and methods: 5 CPRS cases (2 women/3 men) that met the Budapest criteria for the diagnosis of CRPS.

Results: All patients showed spontaneous pain and allodynia. Two cases correspond to a stage I, in both the resting basal temperature was increased in the affected limb. Three cases reflect more advanced stages with a decrease in resting temperature and a delay in the recovery of the temperature when compared to contralateral limb.

Discussion: These non-invasive quantitative functional tests not only improve the diagnostic accuracy of CRPS but also, they help us to stratify and understand the pathological processes of the disease.

Keywords: Complex regional painful syndrome (CRPS); Dolor; Pain; Prueba sensorial cuantitativa (QST); Quantitative sensory test (QST); Síndrome de dolor regional complejo (SDRC); Termografía; Thermography.