Ahmet Boyacı1, Ahmet Tutoğlu1, Fatıma Nurefşan Boyacı2, Şaban Yalçın3

1Department Of Physical Medicine And Rehabilitation, Harran University Medical School, Sanliurfa, Turkey
2Department Of Radiology, Harran University Medical School, Sanliurfa, Turkey
3Department Of Anesthesiology, Harran University Medical School, Sanliurfa, Turkey

Keywords: Distal phalanx, fracture; complex regional pain syndrome; reflex sympathetic dystrophy.

Abstract

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a disease characterized especially by pain, swelling, limited range of motion, vasomotor instability and patchy bone demineralization in the extremities. In this case, we report a 46-year-old woman diagnosed with CRPS type 1, whose complaints, such as swelling in the left hand, pain, and limitation of movement, started 2 months after a fracture of the distal phalanx in the left 4th finger. Her complaints were reduced with treatment of calcitonin, gabapentin, calcium and vitamin D3, retrograde edema massage, contrast baths, conventional TENS, pulsed ultrasound, desensitization and exercise with range of joint motion. CRPS type 1 should be considered in the differential diagnosis of upper limb pains which start after a fracture of the distal phalanx.