Background & Aims

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a debilitating chronic pain condition characterized by motor, vasomotor, and trophic signs and symptoms. Its multifactorial etiology and challenging treatment landscape underscore the need for comprehensive characterization of affected populations. The CRPS UK Registry was established to address this gap, aiming to delineate the characteristics of the CRPS United Kingdom (UK) population.

Methods

CRPS patients were recruited from 10 UK centers to the CRPS UK Registry, an online platform launched in 2008. Core and follow up data were extracted and analysed.

Results

As of December 2020, the database comprised 617 CRPS patients, predominantly female (73%), with a mean age of symptom onset at 47 years (SD 13.14) and a median delay in diagnosis of 5 months (IQR 12). Right-handedness was reported in 78.7% of patients, with the most common spread pattern being contralateral. Fracture emerged as the leading trigger for CRPS (31.1%), with this subgroup exhibiting statistically significant (p < 0.05) trophic changes. Younger CRPS patients exhibited a higher prevalence of dystonia compared to older counterparts. Time to diagnosis seemed to be a pivotal factor for worse CRPS outcomes.

Conclusions

The CRPS UK Registry has successfully enrolled well-characterized CRPS patients, offering valuable insights that can inform future research and clinical management strategies for this challenging condition.

References

Shenker N, Goebel A, Rockett M, Batchelor J, Jones GT, Parker R, de C Williams AC, McCabe C. Establishing the characteristics for patients with chronic Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: the value of the CRPS-UK Registry. Br J Pain. 2015 May;9(2):122-8. doi: 10.1177/2049463714541423. PMID: 26516567; PMCID: PMC4616964.

Presenting Author

Stephany Barreda

Poster Authors

Stephany Barreda Bezerra Da Silva

Lead Author

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Nicholas Shenker

Cambridge University Hospitals (Cambridge, United Kingdom)

Lead Author

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Andreas Goebel

The Walton Centre (Liverpool, United Kingdom)

Lead Author

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Amanda Williams

University College London

Lead Author

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Lisa Buckle

Lead Author

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Topics

  • Specific Pain Conditions/Pain in Specific Populations: Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)