Korean J Pain.  2006 Dec;19(2):213-217. 10.3344/kjp.2006.19.2.213.

Management of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type 1 with Barbiturate Coma Therapy: A case report

• Park TK
• Han KR
• Shin DW
• Lee YJ
• Kim C

• KMID: 2073932
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3344/kjp.2006.19.2.213

Abstract

Although various treatments for complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) have been proposed, no well recognized treatment for CRPS has been established. Herein, a case using barbiturate coma therapy for the refractory pain management of a 24-year-old male patient, who suffered from constant stabbing and burning pain, with severe touch allodynia in the left upper extremity following blunt trauma on his forearm is described. Interventional treatments, including permanent spinal cord stimulation and large doses of oral medications, were performed. However, the pain could not be controlled, which lead to frequent emergency room treatment for about 1 month prior to his therapy. He then underwent barbiturate coma therapy due to the uncontrollable pain, with repeated sedation therapy due to his outrageous behavior. His pain became increasingly tolerable and the allodynia was markedly decreased after 5 days of coma therapy.

Keyword

barbiturate; coma therapy; complex regional pain syndrome

MeSH Terms

Burns
Coma*
Emergency Service, Hospital
Forearm
Humans
Hyperalgesia
Male
Pain, Intractable
Spinal Cord Stimulation
Upper Extremity
Young Adult