Causalgia: A Review of Nerve Resection, Amputation, Immunotherapy, and Amputated Limb CRPS II Pathology

Causalgia and complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) type II with nerve injury can be difficult to treat. Surgical peripheral nerve denervation for causalgia has been largely abandoned by pain clinicians because of a perception that this may aggravate a central component (anesthesia dolorosa). We sel...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Canadian journal of neurological sciences 2024-05, Vol.51 (3), p.351-356
Main Authors: Watson, C. Peter N., Midha, Rajiv, Ng, Denise W.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amputation
Amputation, Surgical
Analgesics
Causalgia - surgery
Complex Regional Pain Syndromes - surgery
Humans
Immunology
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy - methods
Infections
Neurosurgical Procedures - methods
Original Article
Pain
Pathology
Patients
Pneumonia
Prostheses
Serology
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Summary:Causalgia and complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) type II with nerve injury can be difficult to treat. Surgical peripheral nerve denervation for causalgia has been largely abandoned by pain clinicians because of a perception that this may aggravate a central component (anesthesia dolorosa). We selectively searched Pubmed, Cochrane, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL Plus, and Scopus from 1947 for articles, books, and book chapters for evidence of surgical treatments (nerve resection and amputation) and treatment related to autoimmunity and immune deficiency with CRPS. Reviews were found for the treatment of causalgia or CRPS type II ( = 6), causalgia relieved by nerve resection ( = 6), and causalgia and CRPS II treated by amputation ( = 8). Twelve reports were found of autoimmunity with CRPS, one paper of these on associated immune deficiency and autoimmunity, and two were chosen for discussion regarding treatment with immunoglobulin and one by plasma exchange. We document a report of a detailed and unique pathological examination of a CRPS type II affected amputated limb and related successful treatment with immunoglobulin. Nerve resection, with grafting, and relocation may relieve uncomplicated causalgia and CRPS type II in some patients in the long term. However, an unrecognized and treatable immunological condition may underly some CRPS II cases and can lead to the ultimate failure of surgical treatments.
ISSN:0317-1671
2057-0155
DOI:10.1017/cjn.2023.260