Methods of diagnosis and treatment of complex regional pain syndrome: an integrative literature review

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The complex regional pain syndrome is characterized by severe pain that affects one extremity of the body, in addition to edema, increased sensitivity to cold and touch, sweating, discoloration and decreased ability to move. This study aimed to identify and analyze the methods of diagnosis and treatment of complex regional pain syndrome. CONTENTS: This is an integrative review of literature conducted in April 2018, which used the electronic database and an academic search engine to select the studies. We sought to complement the survey with manual search of the citations of the primary studies identified. As a search strategy, the authors used the descriptors: "complex regional pain syndrome", "pain", "chronic pain", "diagnosis" and "treatment" in Portuguese and English. A total of 416 references were identified, 11 of which were selected for the present study. Most articles were published in 2016, in English. In general, the articles present the pathophysiology, methods of diagnosis and treatment of complex regional pain syndrome, and it is possible to identify and analyze the consonance and divergence found in the scientific literature. CONCLUSION: The basis for the diagnosis of regional complex pain syndrome remains clinical, and there is no "gold standard" to conduct the diagnosis as there are no accurate imaging indicators or serum markers. The psychological evaluation and the treatment of the disorders, when present, can ensure a better patient's compliance with the treatment instituted.