ABSTRACT
Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) is an ill-defined constellation of symptoms including pain and dysfunction, typically associated with direct or indirect injury to one or more nerves. Many hand surgeons and pain specialists believe that patients are often incorrecdy diagnosed with RSD. Both underdiagnosis and overdiagnosis are common. Some authorities prefer to use the terms complex regional pain syn drome (CRPS) or the more specific definition, sympathetically maintained pain syndrome (SMPS). This is in contradistinction to those patients with complex re gional pain that is sympathetically independent (SIPS). Nevertheless, the term RSD is still widely used and this chapter will refer to this term.
