[Shoulder pain and limited mobility in the course of algodystrophy of the hand].

UNLABELLED

Algodystrophy typically affects distal parts of upper extremity: the hand and the wrist. Some patients, however, complain of pain and limited mobility in shoulder joint and these symptoms are not related to predisposed injury but appear secondary in the course of the condition. Cause and pathogenesis of this disorder in unknown. The objectives of the study were to investigate incidence of shoulder complains in the patients suffered of algodystrophy of the hand and to evaluate results of the treatment with local steroid injections of proximal insertion of the tendon of biceps muscle. Based on notes of 78 patients with algodystrophy within the hand, the incidence of shoulder complains was analysed. Evaluation of the results of the treatment of 18 patients was performed.

RESULTS

24 patients (31%) complained of pain and limited mobility in shoulder joint. In 17 of these patients (71%) algodystrophy was proceeded by fracture of the distal radius. In 16 patients shoulder complains appeared at the same time with algodystrophy of the hand and in 8 they delayed for 1-3 months. X-rays performed in all patients revealed in 3 only mild osteopenia within proximal part of humerus. All patients had proximal part of bicipital tendons of the biceps muscle tender for palpation suggesting inflammation of this tendon. In 18 patients methylprednisolone and lignocaine was injected 1-3 times locally in the vicinity of the painful tendon. In 15 of these patients (83%) treatment was successful and relief of the pain was achieved within the period from 2 days to 4 weeks. Final assessment of the treatment of algodystrophy was done mean at 13 months after the treatment was completed. Shoulder complaints disappeared in 17 from 24 patients (71%), and in 7 features persisted but were of milder intensity. These 7 patients had significantly worse final result of the treatment of the algodystrophy of the hand than rest of the group.