Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) – A brief review

Purpose of reviewThis review presents a brief synopsis in the current concepts in diagnosis of a perplexing clinical condition that has the potential to be under diagnosed. In addition, it briefly summarizes evidence base for treatment options.Recent concepts in CRPSThe variability in establishing a diagnosis of CRPS has been reduced by introducing the stricter “Budapest Diagnostic Criteria for CRPS”, a consensus among international experts to introduce some uniformity in the diagnosis of the CRPS which still continues to be a clinical diagnosis. There is increasing recognition of dystonia (motor manifestation) as a part of CRPS. New drugs and treatment approaches like immunoglobulins and bisphosphonates are being investigated with promising early results, while the mainstay of therapy remains multidisciplinary individualized regime with emphasis on achieving compliance with physical therapy. Traditional therapies have been recently reevaluated, some having found to be ineffective. The individual therapies with reasonable acceptance include graded motor imagery, anti-neuropathic medications, sympathetic blocks and spinal cord stimulation (in refractory CRPS).SummaryCRPS is a complex difficult to diagnose and difficult to treat medical condition with significant impact on quality of life for the individual. There is gradual improving body of evidence for traditional and emerging therapies, while emphasis on functional improvement with physical therapy continues.