Algodystrophy and osteoporosis after tibial fractures

Abstract

We made a prospective study of the incidence and natural history of algodystrophy and associated changes in bone mineral density in the ankles and feet of 60 consecutive patients who had suffered unilateral fractures of the tibial shaft. At bone union, 18 patients showed signs of algodystrophy. Its development was independent of the type of fracture management and of the severity of injury. Patients with algodystrophy lost significantly more bone mineral than did those without but the degree of this loss was independent of the type of treatment and of the time to fracture union.In most cases the symptoms resolved within six months of fracture union but in four patients they were still present at one year and two of these had not returned to work.

Effect of anti-NGF antibodies in a rat tibia fracture model of complex regional pain syndrome type I

“…For example, distal tibial fractures are associated with a 31% incidence of CRPS type I (Sarangi et al 1993). Many CRPS patients experience chronic pain and disability (Geertzen et al 2006;Vaneker et al 2006).…”

Pentoxifylline attenuates nociceptive sensitization and cytokine expression in a tibia fracture rat model of complex regional pain syndrome

“…Recently we described a rat tibia fracture model of CRPS type I (Guo et al 2004). CRPS is a frequent consequence of distal tibia (Sarangi et al 1993) and distal radius fractures (Atkins et al 1990;Bickerstaff and Kanis 1994). The affected limb displays increased skin temperature, increased cutaneous protein extravasation, distal limb edema, osteoporosis, postural changes and allodynia (Guo et al 2004).…”

Comparative Study of the Locked Intramedullary Nail and Ender Pins in the Treatment of Tibial Diaphyseal Fractures

“…Sarangi et al 37 reported a 30% rate of reflex sympathetic dystrophy in 60 patients with tibial fractures treated by 4 different methods: plaster device, plate, intramedullary nail, and external fixation device. The incidence rate did not differ for the methods used, and in most cases, the symptoms disappeared in less than 6 months.…”