Complex regional pain syndrome in the foot and ankle

Abstract

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) in the foot and ankle is one of the most severe pain diseases of the lower extremity and is frequently an intractable and challenging disease for both physicians and patients. 2. The most common precipitating events of CRPS were sprains, fractures, and surgery. Most reports found that women have a higher incidence rate of CRPS (ratio 2:1–4:1) and that an upper extremity is affected slightly more frequently than a lower extremity. 3. Patients with CRPS not only develop severe pain but also exhibit multiple symptoms such as allodynia, hyperalgesia, temperature asymmetry, skin color change, edema, sweating change, motor dysfunction, and trophic change. 4. The diagnosis of CRPS is based on both patients’ symptoms and on objective diagnostic signs, and the most important point is that there is no other diagnosis that better explains the signs and symptoms. 5. For treatment of CRPS, multimodal and interdisciplinary care is needed, including pharmacologic treatment, interventional treatment, psychological treatment, rehabilitation, and exercise.