Reflex sympathetic dystrophy in two young females.

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy in paediatric patients is a rarely recognized pain syndrome probably of neurovascular origin. The manifectations in two young females consisted of disabling pain and localized hyperesthesia in lower extremities without evident trauma. Sympathetic block followed by active mobilization and, in the patient with atrophic changes, lumbar sympathectomy, resulted in complete recovery. Reflex sympathetic dystrophy should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pain and tenderness in an extremity.