Bier block with methylprednisolone and lidocaine in CRPS type I: a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of intravenous regional anesthesia (Bier block) with methylprednisolone and lidocaine in complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) type I in a randomized, double-blinded, and placebo-controlled study.

METHODS: Twenty-two patients with the diagnosis of CRPS of their upper limb were divided randomly into 2 groups. The mean age was 22.3 +/-1.6 years. Average pain duration was 3.1 +/- 1.4 months. In the placebo group (10 patients), patients received only 100 mL of saline. In the study group (12 patients), 40 mg of methylprednisolone and 10 mL of 2% lidocaine were added to the saline. Treatments were applied once a week. Unless significant adverse effects occurred, 3 sessions of blockade were completed. Pain severity, range of motion (ROM), and volumetric edema measurements were obtained before treatment. Pain severity and satisfaction (resolved, better, no change, or worse) were recorded after each session. The final assessment was performed 1.5 months later. ROM and volumetric measurements were repeated the day after the block and at the final assessment.

RESULTS: Differences in pretreatment features of the patients were not statistically significant ( P >.05). In all assessment periods during the study, improvement in pain severity was statistically significant ( P <.05) in both groups. This statistically significant difference disappeared at the final assessment ( P >.05). No statistically significant difference was obtained in ROM and volumetric measures in any assessment period before and after the block. Satisfaction scores between the groups were also not different in any assessment period.

CONCLUSIONS: Bier block with methylprednisolone and lidocaine in CRPS type I does not provide long-term benefit in CRPS, and its short-term benefit is not superior to placebo.