Outcomes of amputation due to long-standing therapy-resistant complex regional pain syndrome type I.

Geertzen, Jan H B; Scheper, Jelmer; Schrier, Ernst; Dijkstra, Pieter U

OBJECTIVE To assess long-term outcomes of amputation in patients with long-standing therapy-resistant complex regional pain syndrome type I (CRPS-I). DESIGN Partly cross-sectional, partly longitudinal study. SUBJECTS Patients' who had amputation of a limb due to long-standing, therapy-resistant CRPS-I, at the University Medical Centre Groningen, The Netherlands, between May 2000 and September 2015 (n = 53) were invited to participate. METHODS Participants were interviewed in a semi-structured way regarding mobility, pain, recurrence of CRPS-I, quality of life, and prosthesis use. Those who reported recurrence of CRPS-I underwent physical examination. RESULTS A total of 47 patients (median age at time of amputation, 41.0 years; 40 women) participated. Longitudinal evaluation was possible in 17 participants. Thirty-seven participants (77%) reported an important improvement in mobility (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 63-87%). An important reduction in pain was reported by 35 participants (73%; 95% CI 59-83%). CRPS-I recurred in 4 of 47 participants (9%; 95% CI 3-20%), once in the residual limb and 3 times in another limb. Of the 35 participants fitted with a lower limb prosthesis, 24 were still using the prosthesis. Longitudinal evaluation showed no significant deteriorations. CONCLUSION Amputation can be considered as a treatment for patients with long-standing, therapy-resistant CRPS-I. Amputation can increase mobility and reduce pain, thereby improving the quality of patients' lives. However, approximately one-quarter of participants reported deteriorations in intimacy and self-confidence after the amputation.