REFLEX SYMPATHETIC DYSTROPHY OF THE HEAD - CASE-REPORT AND DISCUSSIONOF DIAGNOSTIC-CRITERIA

The case of a patient who was involved in a car crash is presented. On the right side her wrist and zygomatic arch were fractured. At both l ocalizations she developed a painful syndrome. The diagnosis of reflex sympathetic dystrophy of her arm was made within 3 weeks after the in jury and therapy instituted. The pain in her face and skull were accom panied by vasomotor changes which increased after exercise and by hype sthesia, hyperpathia, paresis, and hyperhidrosis. Disorders of the cra nial nerves were excluded by physical examination and electromyography and structural disorders by CT scanning. The diagnosis reflex sympath etic dystrophy of the head was made one year after the injury. The pro blems in diagnosis are discussed.