Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type I: Incidence and Risk Factors in Patients With Fracture of the Distal Radius

Abstract Objective To examine the incidence and predictors of complex regional pain syndrome type I (CRPS I) after fracture of the distal radius. Design Prospective study. Setting University hospital. Participants A consecutive sample of patients (N=90) with fracture of the distal radius treated by closed reduction and casting. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures Occurrence of CRPS I, occurrence of pain, wrist and hand range of motion, radiographic measures, Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey at baseline and 1, 3, 6, and 9 months follow-up. Results CRPS I occurred in 29 patients (32.2%) with a mean delay ± SD of 21.7±23.7 days from cast removal. Univariate analyses found significant differences between patients with CRPS I and patients without CRPS I at baseline for sex ( P =.021), socioeconomic level ( P =.023), type of trauma ( P =.05), pain at rest and activity ( P =.006 and P