Abstract
This Practice Point provides commentary on a prospective study by Krumova et al. that explored the diagnostic utility of long-term temperature measurements in patients with upper extremity complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). The objectives of the group were twofold: to evaluate vascular abnormalities in CRPS by comparing real-time thermal variations experienced in everyday circumstances over prolonged time frames in affected and nonaffected hands, and to develop a practical approach for differentiating CRPS from other painful conditions. Measurement of skin temperature dynamics differentiated between CRPS and arm pain secondary to other etiologies with a sensitivity of 73% and a specificity of 67%. Although the technique Krumova and colleagues used is more practical than those previously described, it is still too onerous for patients and physicians to routinely employ. We anticipate that improved identification of pain mechanisms will translate into better treatment outcomes, but this hypothesis remains to be tested.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 print issues and online access
$209.00 per year
only $17.42 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
de Mos M et al. (2007) The incidence of complex regional pain syndrome: a population-based study. Pain 129: 12–20
Harden RN et al. (2007) Proposed new diagnostic criteria for complex regional pain syndrome. Pain Med 8: 326–331
Krumova EK et al. (2008) Long-term skin temperature measurements: a practical diagnostic tool in complex regional pain syndrome. Pain 140: 8–22
Wasner G et al. (2002) Skin temperature side differences: a diagnostic tool for CRPS? Pain 98: 19–26
Woolf CJ et al. (2004) Pain: moving from symptom control toward mechanism-specific pharmacologic management. Ann Intern Med 140: 441–451
Chaturvedi A and Dash HH (2001) Sympathetic blockade for the relief of chronic pain. J Indian Med Assoc 99: 698–703
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Competing interests
The authors declare no competing financial interests.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Cohen, S., Raja, S. Does prolonged skin temperature measurement improve the diagnosis of complex regional pain syndrome?. Nat Rev Neurol 5, 14–15 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncpneuro0987
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ncpneuro0987
This article is cited by
-
Komplexes regionales Schmerzsyndrom nach distaler Radiusfraktur
Der Unfallchirurg (2016)