Complex Regional Pain Syndrome in Children: A Systematic Review of Clinical Features and Movement Disorders

Abstract

Aim: To ascertain clinical features of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) in children with a focus on movement disorders. Methods: all publications with original data on children with CRPS were assessed. Data were tabulated and descriptive statistics were applied. Results: One population-based study and nine clinic-based studies provided data on demographic and clinical characteristics of childhood CRPS. Mean age of onset was 12.5 years and 85% of patients were females (risk ratio: 1.70; 95% CI: 1.54−1.88). History of trauma in 71% and the lower limbs were affected in 75% of patients. A secondary site involvement was present in 15%. Movement disorders and dystonia were reported in 30% of children. Conclusion: Majority of cases of CRPS in children are females with mean age of 12.5 years. Movement disorders (mainly dystonia) affect at least one in three children with CRPS.

KEYWORDS:

• children and adolescents
• complex regional pain syndrome
• dystonia

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Notes

Data taken with permission from [3].

Data taken with permission from [4].