Abstract:

Objective To summarize the development of a patient with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) after distal radius fracture and the effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) combined with conventional rehabilitation on it.Methods One patient with CRPS after left distal radius fracture was treated with rTMS combined with conventional rehabilitation for three weeks. The pain degree was evaluated with Visual Analogue Score (VAS), the edema was assessed with volume of hand and circumference of finger, and motion of joint was measured with passive range of motion. The activities of daily living was assessed with modified Barthel Index (MBS).Results Before treatment, the VAS score was 8, the volume of left hand was 330 ml, the temperature of skin was 36.8 ℃. The activity of flexion and extension of left elbow joint, pronation and supination of left forearm, the flexion, extension, ulnar deviation and temporal deviation of left wrist, and metacarpophalangeal joints (MCP), proximal interphalangeal joint (PIP) and distal interphalangeal joint (DIP) of left hand were all limited. The circumference of left finger was larger than right finger, and the score of MBI was 85. After three weeks of treatment, the VAS score was 2, the volume of the left hand was 310 ml, the temperature of the skin was 33.8 ℃. The activities of left elbow joint, left wrist joint and left MCP, PIP, and DIP were better than before. The score of MBI was 100.Conclusion rTMS combined with conventional rehabilitation is effective on CRPS after distal radius fracture, in the range of motion and edema of upper extremity, and activities of daily living.

Key words: distal radius fracture, complex regional pain syndrome, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation