Rationale for the use of osteopathic correction methods in patients with Sudeck syndrome

Introduction. One of the serious complications after limb injuries is the development of Sudeck-Turner syndrome (refl ex sympathetic dystrophy). Various methods of conservative treatment are used: drug therapy, physiotherapy, exercise therapy, blockade, and finally with prolonged and unsuccessful conservative therapy, various types of surgical techniques. However the severity and duration of the disease, the treatment low efficiency, the unpredictability of the pathological process outcome forces traumatologists looking for new treatment methods. Osteopathic correction could be one of these methods.

The goal of research — to substantiate the use of osteopathic correction methods in patients with Sudeck syndrome.

Materials and methods. 11 patients suffering from post-traumatic pain syndrome were examined and treated for complications of distal forearm fractures. 5 patients were included in the control group and received treatment according to standard methods. 6 patientswere included in the main group and received osteopathic correction. Dynamics of patients′ condition changes was evaluated by the photographic method, X-ray of the wrist joint in 2 projections, assessment of carpal muscle strength on 6-point scale, the assessment of wrist strength by dynamometrical carpal dynamometer. The osteopathic status of patients was also assessed at the beginning and at the end of treatment. Statistical analysis was performed using nonparametric statistics.

Results. It was found that osteopathic correction of the patients suffering withSudeck syndrome reduces the treatment time for this patients′category. The study showed that the treatment period is reduced by an average of 35 days. In addition, in patients receiving osteopathic correction, the function of the damaged limb is restored to a fuller extent: only in 33% of cases there was a limitation of motion range (compared with 100 % in the control group), there was no edema (compared with 60 % in the control group), the carpal force increased by 66 % (48 % — the control group), in 50 % of the patients the carpal force was fully restored.

Conclusion. The conducted research allowed comparing the possibilities of traumatological rehabilitation treatment of thepatients suffering withSudeck syndrome, and the treatment using osteopathic methods of examination and correction. The obtained results allow to recommend osteopathic correction in the complex of measures for the treatment of Sudeck syndrome. 

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