Reflex sympathetic dystrophy of the stump in below-knee amputees.

OBJECTIVE

To document the occurrence of reflex sympathetic dystrophy of the stump in two patients with below-knee amputation.

DESIGN

A retrospective survey emphasising two clinical case reports.

SETTING

Department of orthopaedic rehabilitation at a teaching rehabilitation hospital.

PATIENTS

Lower limb amputees (n = 164) were accepted for prosthetic rehabilitation. Twenty-one amputees were regarded as rehabilitation failures; in two below-knee amputees intractable pain was the major problem.

RESULTS

Clinical manifestations, radiological, and scintigraphic findings in the two amputees with intractable pain met the criteria for diagnosis of reflex sympathetic dystrophy.

CONCLUSIONS

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy of the stump should be suspected in below-knee amputees whenever severe pain persists over a period of 3 to 4 months following amputation.