Factors Associated with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome in Patients with Surgically Treated Distal Radius Fracture

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is an important common complication after surgical treatment for distal radius fracture. Recognition of the related factors is important to reduce the burden of the problem. Herein, the contributing factors for CRPS after distal radius fracture surgery are studied.

In this cross-sectional comparative study, 250 patients admitted to the orthopedics ward in Sina Hospital in Tehran, Iran, from 2017 to 2020, were enrolled. The contributing factors for CRPS after distal radius fracture surgery were determined in them.

The CRPS was seen in 17 cases (6.8%). 9 percent of male and 1.9 percent of female patients were diagnosed with CRPS. This showed a significant difference in the Fisher test (P = 0.028). The mean pain severity by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was higher in CRPS cases, that showed a significant difference by the Mann-Whitney test (P = 0.001).

According to the obtained results, it may be concluded that CRPS was seen in seven percent of patients under surgery for distal radius fracture and was related to the male gender and higher pain severity.