CORRELATION OF PAIN WITH TEMPERATURE AND BLOOD-FLOW CHANGES IN THE LOWER-LIMB FOLLOWING CHEMICAL LUMBAR SYMPATHECTOMY IN REFLEX SYMPATHETICDYSTROPHY

Temperature and microcirculatory blood flow studies have been measured before and after chemical sympathectomy in a patient with reflex symp athetic dystrophy of the left leg present for at least three years fol lowing surgery for glomus tumour. Normalisation of temperature and blo od flow was associated with the relief of pain, present initially when the limb was hypothermic and vasoconstricted and recurring when the l imb was hyperthermic and vasodilated. It is possible that such objecti ve measurement may be used to determine the optimal management of RSD.