Abstract
The purpose of this case-control study was to assess the frequency of the inappropriate
diagnosis of reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) in patients who presented with dysfunctional
postures of the upper extremity (n = 43). This group of patients with a dysfunctional
posture was compared with a randomly selected control group of patients who presented
with pain but no dysfunctional posture (n = 88). The patients underwent radiographic
evaluation after review of previous medical records and history and physical examination.
Patients with dysfunctional postures had a significantly higher frequency (63%) of
a previous inappropriate diagnosis of RSD compared with the control group (6%). None
of the patients in either group had objective findings consistent with a diagnosis
of RSD. Patients presenting with dysfunctional postures of the upper extremity may
be misdiagnosed as having RSD and rarely meet the criteria for this diagnosis. (J
Hand Surg 2000;25A:1152-1156. Copyright © 2000 by the American Society for Surgery
of the Hand.)
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
May 31,
2000
Received:
December 28,
1999
Footnotes
*No benefits in any form have been received or will be received from a commercial party related directly or indirectly to the subject of this article.
**Reprint requests: Morton L. Kasdan, MD, PO Box 6048, Louisville, KY 40206.
Identification
Copyright
© 2000 American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
