J Korean Pain Soc.  1993 Nov;6(2):261-264.

Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy following Carbon Monoxide Intoxication

• Han YJ
• Choe H

Abstract

A 26 year old male patient had admitted to the department of plastic surgery for the treatment of skin defect of forearm and spastic contracture of right hand, attributable to burn injury following carbon monoxide intoxication. After receiving skin graft the patients tenotomy of flexor tendons, the patients was consulted to pain clinic for further evaluation and treatment of allodynia, hyperalgesia, and hyperpathia with marked emotional insufficiency. The patient was treated with stellate ganglion blocks, intermittent or continuous epidural blocks, and intermittent brachial plexus blocks for 3 months. with this treatment the patients pain level improved to (VAS 10 to 4-5) and was discharged. The patient was readmitted 3 months later, due to the aggrzvation of pain. Brachial plexus blocks were given again by interscalene, supraclavicular, or axillary route, sometimes using a catheter, together with cervical epidural blocks. Tricyclic antidepressant was also prescribed. The results were remarkably good (VAS 2-3) and the patient did not require any further analgesic medication.

Keyword

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy; Carbon monoxide intoxication

MeSH Terms

Adult
Brachial Plexus
Burns
Carbon Monoxide*
Carbon*
Catheters
Contracture
Forearm
Hand
Humans
Hyperalgesia
Male
Muscle Spasticity
Pain Clinics
Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy*
Reflex*
Skin
Stellate Ganglion
Surgery, Plastic
Tendons
Tenotomy
Transplants
Carbon
Carbon Monoxide