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

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.