Algodystrophy in children and adolescents: a review.

Algodystrophy occurs in children significantly less frequently than in adults. Symptomatology, course, responsiveness to treatment and prognosis of the pediatric disease is also different from the "adult" form. This paper presents substantial peculiarities of pediatric algodystrophy: it occurs after relatively minor trauma, involves lower limb more frequently than upper limb and presents with pain, paleness and coldness of the skin in the affected part, as well as with serious functional impairment. Diagnosis of the condition is based on clinical grounds and no imaging is necessary to confirm the diagnosis. Psychological distress is suspected in the development of the disease in children and adolescents, but there is no definitive evidence supporting this view. Treatment of pediatric algodystrophy should be complex and consist of physical therapy, psychotherapy, pain therapy and, in selected cases, sympathetic and somatic blocks. The literature emphasizes very poor knowledge of algodystrophy in the pediatric community.