Identification of complex regional pain syndrome in the upper limb: Skin temperature asymmetry after cold pressor test.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Skin temperature asymmetry (SkTA) may assist in early identification of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), but previous work has been limited by methodological shortcomings including failure to account for the cutaneous nerve distribution where temperature is measured and reliance on laboratory equipment not clinically available. Pilot work suggested that a cold pressor test (CPT) provided a consistent thermoregulatory stress and might increase sensitivity/specificity of SkTA measurements generated reliably by handheld infrared (IR) thermometers.

Aims

This study investigated the sensitivity, specificity, and validity of SkTA in the upper limb to identify CRPS.

Methods

This study was part of a larger clinical trial (the SARA study: www.clinicaltrials.gov

SUBMITTER: Packham T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8730613 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature