[Sudeck syndrome of the hand. Historical review, treatment concept and results].

The literature on the etiology, pathogenesis, and therapy of Sudeck's atrophy is reviewed. The authors present their treatment regimen for reflex dystrophic hands that has been used successfully for more than twenty years. This program consists of a combination including drugs as well as physical and occupational therapy. Patients have to be guided psychologically. In-patient treatment is preferred. The ultimate aim of therapy is to restore the functional integrity of the affected hand. The choice of therapy depends on the stage of the disease. Removing pain and edema is the most important aim in stage I. This is achieved by immobilization of the affected extremity in an upward position, cooling the hand with ice, and careful physiotherapy supported by antiphlogistic drugs. In stage II the physiotherapy has to be intensified and should be supplemented by special balneologic (bathing) measures and functional splints. The ipsilateral shoulder can be affected and has to be treated adequately. In stage III additional surgical treatment might be helpful such as arthrolysis, arthroplasty, or arthrodesis of finger joints. The authors report on their results in seventy-seven dystrophic hands in a long-term follow-up between one and fourteen years. The results depend on the begin of the treatment in the different stages of the disease. Eighty-three percent of the patients were cured in stage I, only thirty-one percent in stage II, and no patient in stage III. The authors' experience using Calcitone shows that it has no influence on the functional results. Comparing their results to those obtained by others, the authors conclude that physical and occupational therapy are decisive in dealing with dystrophic hands.