gms | German Medical Science

Objective: The complex regional pain syndrome type I (CRPS I) is a seldom pathology of the extremities which commonly presents after trauma with an estimated international overall incidence of 26.2 per 100,000 person year. Actual conservative and surgical therapy regimes prove to be insufficient in most cases. High frequency SCS (HF10) stimulates epidurally at a rate of 10,000Hz.

Methods: We present a series of three patients in which a high frequency SCS was implanted to treat a CRPS I. All of the patients have the certain diagnosis of a CRPS I and showed no improvement with medical care. Patient1 had already been treated successfully with a tonic SCS but showed a loss of effect after 2 years. Two octrones were implanted epidurally, paramedian in a shifted fashion. The success of therapy was measured by pain relief (NRS).

Results: All patients showed a relevant pain improvement. Also changes in trophic signs were documented. Two of the three patients also were able to reduce their analgesics dosis. In one patient a caudal electrode luxation occurred which was corrected surgically. None of the patients underwent an amputation.

Conclusion: High frequency SCS shows to be effective in treating CRPS I. All patients had an improvement in their pain scales after implantation. It is reasonable to try a HF10 in those patients in which medical care is insufficient before extreme procedures are undergone. Further studies with longer follow ups and larger series are needed to confirm this observation.