OBJECTIVE: To assess the difference in bone mineral density (BMD) between pathologic and healthy legs in reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome (RSDS) using a whole body BMD with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). METHODS: Cross sectional evaluation of BMD in 55 patients with RSDS compared BMD of the affected and the healthy limb with 121 controls. Followup was performed on 21 patients treated with intravenous pamidronate. RESULTS: In the cross sectional study, BMD was reduced in the dystrophic affected extremities and this reduction correlated with the duration of evolution of the disease. In the longitudinal study, BMD remained stable in patients treated with pamidronate. CONCLUSION: The cross sectional study confirms that DEXA is not a diagnostic tool. The longitudinal study confirms DEXA is accurate, nontraumatic, rapid, and safe for longterm quantitative assessment of unilateral bone loss caused by lower limb RSDS.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the difference in bone mineral density (BMD) between pathologic and healthy legs in reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome (RSDS) using a whole body BMD with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). METHODS: Cross sectional evaluation of BMD in 55 patients with RSDS compared BMD of the affected and the healthy limb with 121 controls. Followup was performed on 21 patients treated with intravenous pamidronate. RESULTS: In the cross sectional study, BMD was reduced in the dystrophic affected extremities and this reduction correlated with the duration of evolution of the disease. In the longitudinal study, BMD remained stable in patients treated with pamidronate. CONCLUSION: The cross sectional study confirms that DEXA is not a diagnostic tool. The longitudinal study confirms DEXA is accurate, nontraumatic, rapid, and safe for longterm quantitative assessment of unilateral bone loss caused by lower limb RSDS.