The reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome (RSDS): III. Scintigraphic studies, further evidence for the therapeutic efficacy of systemic corticosteroids, and proposed diagnostic criteria

doi:10.1016/0002-9343(81)90407-1

The American Journal of Medicine

Volume 70, Issue 1, January 1981, Pages 23-30

https://doi.org/10.1016/0002-9343(81)90407-1 Get rights and content

Abstract

Sixty-four patients were evaluated prospectively for a reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome (RSDS), using quantitative clinical measurements, high-resolution roentgenography and scintigraphy. Five separate groups were identified by their clinical features, allowing us to distinguish patients with definite or incomplete forms of the RSDS as well as 16 patients with other disorders. Scintigraphy was found to be a useful diagnostic study that may also provide a method of predicting therapeutic response. Systemic corticosteroid therapy proved to be a highly effective mode of treatment for up to 90 percent of the patients with the RSDS.

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^∗: Recipient of a Clinical Investigator Award (AM00483-01) from the National Institutes of Arthritis, Metabolism & Digestive Disease.

¹: From the Departments of Medicine (Rheumatology) and Radiology, The Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee County Medical Complex, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

^†: Recipient of a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship from the National Arthritis Foundation.

²: From the Wood Veterans Administration Hospital, Wood, Wisconsin.

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Clinical studyThe reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome (RSDS): III. Scintigraphic studies, further evidence for the therapeutic efficacy of systemic corticosteroids, and proposed diagnostic criteria

Abstract

Am J Med

Am J Med

Clin Radiol

Am J Surg

Radiol Clin North Am

Am J Surg

Gunshot wounds and other injuries of nerves

The painful shoulder and reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome

Reflex dystrophy of the extremities

Arch Surg

Post-traumatic painful osteoporosis: a clinical and roentgenological entity

Am J Roentgenol

The reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome: a comprehensive analysis using fine-detail radiography, photon absorptiometry and bone and joint scintigraphy

Radiology

Clinical study
The reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome (RSDS): III. Scintigraphic studies, further evidence for the therapeutic efficacy of systemic corticosteroids, and proposed diagnostic criteria