What are some precipitating factors for the development of CRPS?
Approximately 75% of the time, there is a clear precipitating factor that causes the development of CRPS. It occurs most commonly after fractures (up to 7%), peripheral nerve injury (1%–5%), strokes/myocardial infarctions (5%), sprains, and surgery (especially carpal tunnel surgery). No inciting factor can be identified in 10% to 20% of cases.
Inciting Factors
Trauma (common cause)
Chemical burns
Fractures (common cause)
Electrical burns
Lacerations
Postherpetic neuralgia
Crush injuries
Cervical spine pathology
Contusions
Subcutaneous injections
Sprains (common cause)
Drugs (barbiturates)
Immobilization in a cast
Malignancies (ovarian)
Myocardial infarctions
Pregnancy
Strokes and other central nervous system (CNS) injury (common cause)
Peripheral nerve diseases (common cause)
Pleuropulmonary diseases
Emotional stress
Surgery, especially carpal tunnel syndrome and foot surgery (common cause)
Predisposing Factors
Diabetes mellitus
Neurovegetative dystonia
Hyperparathyroidism
Hypertriglyceridemia
Hyperthyroidism
Alcohol and/or tobacco abuse
Multiple sclerosis
Chronic low back pain
Use of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
