Sympathetic dystrophies. Recognizing and managing a puzzling group of syndromes.

The sympathetic dystrophies are poorly understood and underdiagnosed, especially in their milder forms. Although the two major syndromes, causalgia and reflex sympathetic dystrophy, are similar in many aspects, significant differences remain in clinical presentation, pathogenesis, and management. This discussion of these syndromes focuses on clinical presentation and diagnosis for the primary care physician.