Complex regional pain syndrome type-1: A rare complication of arteriovenous graft placement

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) type-1 (previously termed reflex symp athetic dystrophy syndrome) may be manifested as sympathetically mediated p ain and swelling in an extremity. Among the numerous causes of reflex sympa thetic dystrophy, the most common is trauma. We describe a 71-year-old diab etic man with endstage renal disease who presented with CRPS type-1 of the left hand one month after construction of a PTFE (polytetranuroethylene) ar teriovenous graft. The symptoms of CRPS improved greatly with stellate gang lion blocks and physical therapy.