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| Tracey Pons Registered Physiotherapy Specialist, University of Otago, Dunedin, NZ Physiotherapy Management for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) on the South Island of New Zealand – A Case Series Tracey Pons*, Prof Edward Shipton**, Dr Jonathan Williman***, Prof Roger Mulder****
* Tracey Pons, PhD Student, University of Otago
** Department of Anaesthesia, University of Otago
*** Biostatistics and Computation Biology Unit, University of Otago
**** Department of Psychiatry, University of Otago
Introduction: The outcomes as well as the physiotherapy interventions for 18 patients with CRPS referred to all Physiotherapy outpatient clinics in the South Island of New Zealand were measured over one year in a prospective, observational, longitudinal study.
Aims: The objective for this project was to determine for the south island a) what the outcomes for CRPS patients are with the McGill Pain-short form, World Health Organisation Disability Assessment Schedule, Quick Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, Hand and Foot Function Index questionnaires b) categorise what physiotherapy interventions are used c) determine the effect of each category of physiotherapy intervention.
Methods: A total of 20 participants, including 2 drop outs, signed consent and were followed up by telephone with an independent interviewer from 6 weeks, 6 months and 1 year following baseline measures and commencing physiotherapy. All physiotherapy intervention methods were categorised into either interventions for pain control, functional restoration or immobilisation. Ethical approval was given for this study by the University of Otago Ethics committee (H13/103).
Results: Characteristics of participants show a mean age of 44 years with a predominance of New Zealand European females and upper limb fractures. Soft tissue injury and surgery were other precipitants for the onset of CRPS. Physiotherapy interventions were largely functional restoration (42%), followed by pain control (34%) and immobilisation (9%). All outcome measures showed significant improvement over 1 year.
Conclusion: This is the first national or international prospective longitudinal study across a region to assess CRPS outcomes or Physiotherapy interventions.
References
Barnhoorn, K.J., et al., Are Pain-Related Fears Mediators for Reducing Disability and Pain in Patients with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type 1? An Explorative Analysis on Pain Exposure Physical Therapy. Plos One, 2015. 10(4)
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