Reflex sympathetic dystrophy of the lower extremity in tetraplegia: Case report

Todd P. Lefkoe; Diana D. Cardenas

doi:10.1038/sc.1996.44

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy of the lower extremity in tetraplegia: Case report

Todd P. Lefkoe, Diana D. Cardenas

Rehabilitation Medicine

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) of the upper extremities has been reported to occur following complete and incomplete injuries of the cervical cord. Such reports describe the value of the three-phase radionuclide bone scan (TPBS) in differentiating RSD from pain of other sources. To our knowledge, RSD of the lower extremities has not been reported in a patient with tetraplegia. We report a case of lower extremity RSD in a patient with a complete traumatic injury of the cervical cord. The case illustrates the use of the TPBS to differentiate RSD from heterotopic ossification (HO) in the lower extremities. The successful use of the alpha-adrenergic blocker, phenoxybenzamine, in the treatment of RSD is described. Follow-up to 30 months has shown no evidence of recurrence, and complete resolution of the scintigraphic findings.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	239-242
Number of pages	4
Journal	Spinal Cord
Volume	34
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/sc.1996.44
State	Published - 1996

Keywords

lower extremities
pain syndromes
phenoxybenzamine
reflex sympathetic dystrophy
tetraplegia

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Clinical Neurology

Access to Document

10.1038/sc.1996.44

Cite this

@article{9c2be59ee9f84602984b577c3466ad96,

title = "Reflex sympathetic dystrophy of the lower extremity in tetraplegia: Case report",

abstract = "Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) of the upper extremities has been reported to occur following complete and incomplete injuries of the cervical cord. Such reports describe the value of the three-phase radionuclide bone scan (TPBS) in differentiating RSD from pain of other sources. To our knowledge, RSD of the lower extremities has not been reported in a patient with tetraplegia. We report a case of lower extremity RSD in a patient with a complete traumatic injury of the cervical cord. The case illustrates the use of the TPBS to differentiate RSD from heterotopic ossification (HO) in the lower extremities. The successful use of the alpha-adrenergic blocker, phenoxybenzamine, in the treatment of RSD is described. Follow-up to 30 months has shown no evidence of recurrence, and complete resolution of the scintigraphic findings.",

keywords = "lower extremities, pain syndromes, phenoxybenzamine, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, tetraplegia",

author = "Lefkoe, {Todd P.} and Cardenas, {Diana D.}",

year = "1996",

doi = "10.1038/sc.1996.44",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "34",

pages = "239--242",

journal = "Spinal Cord",

issn = "1362-4393",

publisher = "Nature Publishing Group",

number = "4",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Reflex sympathetic dystrophy of the lower extremity in tetraplegia

T2 - Case report

AU - Lefkoe, Todd P.

AU - Cardenas, Diana D.

PY - 1996

Y1 - 1996

N2 - Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) of the upper extremities has been reported to occur following complete and incomplete injuries of the cervical cord. Such reports describe the value of the three-phase radionuclide bone scan (TPBS) in differentiating RSD from pain of other sources. To our knowledge, RSD of the lower extremities has not been reported in a patient with tetraplegia. We report a case of lower extremity RSD in a patient with a complete traumatic injury of the cervical cord. The case illustrates the use of the TPBS to differentiate RSD from heterotopic ossification (HO) in the lower extremities. The successful use of the alpha-adrenergic blocker, phenoxybenzamine, in the treatment of RSD is described. Follow-up to 30 months has shown no evidence of recurrence, and complete resolution of the scintigraphic findings.

AB - Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) of the upper extremities has been reported to occur following complete and incomplete injuries of the cervical cord. Such reports describe the value of the three-phase radionuclide bone scan (TPBS) in differentiating RSD from pain of other sources. To our knowledge, RSD of the lower extremities has not been reported in a patient with tetraplegia. We report a case of lower extremity RSD in a patient with a complete traumatic injury of the cervical cord. The case illustrates the use of the TPBS to differentiate RSD from heterotopic ossification (HO) in the lower extremities. The successful use of the alpha-adrenergic blocker, phenoxybenzamine, in the treatment of RSD is described. Follow-up to 30 months has shown no evidence of recurrence, and complete resolution of the scintigraphic findings.

KW - lower extremities

KW - pain syndromes

KW - phenoxybenzamine

KW - reflex sympathetic dystrophy

KW - tetraplegia

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0029978924&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0029978924&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1038/sc.1996.44

DO - 10.1038/sc.1996.44

M3 - Article

C2 - 8963969

AN - SCOPUS:0029978924

VL - 34

SP - 239

EP - 242

JO - Spinal Cord

JF - Spinal Cord

SN - 1362-4393

IS - 4

ER -

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy of the lower extremity in tetraplegia: Case report

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this