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PEDIATRIC ANESTHESIA

Intrathecal Local Anesthetic Infusion as a Treatment for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome in a Child

From the Division of Pain Medicine, Akron Children's Hospital, Akron, Ohio.

Address correspondence and reprints requests to Dr. Ibrahim Farid, Pain Center, Director, Children's Hospital Medical Center of Akron, 1 Perkin's Square, Akron, Ohio 44308. Address e-mail to ifarid{at}chmca.org.

Diagnosis and treatment of complex regional pain syndrome in children is one of the most challenging clinical pain problems encountered in the chronic pain setting. Despite the intense and debilitating nature of the pain, referral to appropriate specialists often comes too late, thereby prolonging an already arduous (and controversial) course of treatment and risking long-term disability. On the contrary, full recovery can be expected with early diagnosis and prompt treatment. The following case study describes a novel and successful use of intrathecal catheter administration of ropivacaine in a child with early, rapidly progressing, and debilitating complex regional pain syndrome.