31st January 2024

Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome

The Budapest criteria is used for diagnosis of CRPS. The patient must have continued pain, which is disproportionate to any inciting event, as well as symptoms and signs in the following categories:

• Sensory: allodynia or hyperalgesia 
• Vasomotor: temperature asymmetry, skin colour changes or skin colour asymmetry
• Sudomotor/oedema: oedema, sweating changes or sweating asymmetry
• Motor/trophic: decreased range of motion, motor dysfunction (weakness, tremor, dystonia) or trophic changes (hair, nail or skin)

There must be at least one sign in at least two of the categories and at least one symptom in at least three of the categories. Lastly, no other diagnosis should explain the symptoms better. There is no specific investigation for this condition; workup with laboratory tests and imaging should be performed to rule out other conditions.