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J Brachial Plex Peripher Nerve Inj 2011; 06(01): e40-e43
DOI: 10.1186/1749-7221-6-6
Case report
Irwin and Schwartzman; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Complex regional pain syndrome with associated chest wall dystonia: a case report[*]

David J Irwin
1   Drexel University College of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Philadelphia, PA, USA
,
Robert J Schwartzman
1   Drexel University College of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Philadelphia, PA, USA
› Author Affiliations
Subject Editor:
Further Information

Publication History

01 March 2011

26 September 2011

Publication Date:
23 September 2014 (online)

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Abstract

Patients with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) often suffer from an array of associated movement disorders, including dystonia of an affected limb. We present a case of a patient with long standing CRPS after a brachial plexus injury, who after displaying several features of the movement disorder previously, developed painful dystonia of chest wall musculature. Detailed neurologic examination found palpable sustained contractions of the pectoral and intercostal muscles in addition to surface allodynia. Needle electromyography of the intercostal and paraspinal muscles supported the diagnosis of dystonia. In addition, pulmonary function testing showed both restrictive and obstructive features in the absence of a clear cardiopulmonary etiology. Treatment was initiated with intrathecal baclofen and the patient had symptomatic relief and improvement of dystonia. This case illustrates a novel form of the movement disorder associated with CRPS with response to intrathecal baclofen treatment.

Keywords

complex regional pain syndrome - dystonia - movement disorder - dyspnea

*This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.


 

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