Musculoskeletal Ultrasonography in CRPS: Assessment of Muscles Before and After Motor Function Recovery with Dry Needling as the Sole Treatment.

Background: Motor impairment is an important criterion in the Clinical Diagnostic Criteria (CDC) of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome type-1 (CRPS-1) as defined by International Association for Study of Pain (IASP).

Objective: To describe the changes in musculoskeletal ultrasonography (MSKUSG) in CRPS-1 before and after treatment with ultrasound-guided dry needling (USGDN) in retrospective data from 44 patients.

Study Design: Patients irrespective of age, gender, or cause of CRPS were included in this retrospective data analysis; the Budapest criteria for the diagnosis of CRPS were stringently adhered to.

Ultrasound appearance of forearm muscles in 18 patients with complex regional pain syndrome 1 of the upper extremity.

Objective: To explore the potential diagnostic utility of musculoskeletal ultrasonography (USG) changes in complex regional pain syndrome type 1 (CRPS-1) of the upper extremity.

Methods: With informed consent, 18 consecutive patients referred to our institution with CRPS-1 of the upper limb were examined with ultrasound scanning of both upper limbs. Qualitative comparison of the scan of the forearm muscles of the affected side with the unaffected side was made.