Children and Young Adults with Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome

The aim of this study is to describe a population of 27 children and young adults with reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome (RSDS) to identify causes, similarities in the population, and effects of various treatment modalities. In the majority of cases examined, the precipitating event eliciting RSDS was accidental trauma. Data indicate that of a population of 165 RSDS clients of all ages, a significant fraction, namely 27 of 165, were young, ages 6–19 years. Data further indicate that RSDS in the 27 subjects studied has not been easily treated or cured. Regardless of length of time elapsed until diagnosis or treatment modality used, 26 of the 27 youths participating in this study still have RSDS and have chronic pain. These data indicate that, to date, the four major treatment methods generally provide temporary relief, at best, and that RSDS clients are rarely “cured,” but are subject to erratic patterns of remissions and exacerbations.