Complex regional pain syndrome (reflex sympathetic dystrophy).

The management of CRPS can be approached using objective criteria in a logical and systematic fashion. Frustration during treatment is common because: (1) the pathophysiology of CRPS is incompletely understood, (2) there is significant variation in presentation due to disparate premorbid anatomy and physiology, and (3) the natural history may be affected by incomplete treatment. Therapeutic efforts that should be effective may fail, and a trial-and-error approach to treatment is often mandatory. Early recognition of CRPS and prompt intervention, however, provide the best opportunity for clinical improvement.