Reflex sympathetic dystrophy in children.

Six patients with reflex sympathetic dystrophy were investigated during the period between 1973 and 1978. Children do not develop the severe, disabling pain nor the patchy osteoporosis (Sudeck's atrophy) which are considered essential features of reflex sympathetic dystrophy in adults. In contrast to the adult variety, reflex sympathetic dystrophy in children is a self-limiting condition which usually responds well to mild analgesics and physical therapy. Frequently it may be necessary to administer the physical therapy in an intensive, inpatient program, both to break the pain-disability cycle and to remove the patient from a stressful family environment that may have initiated or prolonged the syndrome. The use of steroids (dexamethasone) had no appreciable effect on the clinical course in these children.