German translation and external validation of the Radboud Skills Questionnaire in patients suffering from Complex Regional Pain Syndrome 1

July 10th, 2010

Authors: Florian Brunner, Carolin Heitz, Rudolf Kissling, Alfons Kessels, Roberto Perez, Johan Marinus, Gerben ter Riet, Lucas Bachmann

Patients suffering from Complex Regional Pain Syndrome commonly complain of substantial limitations in their activities of daily living. The Radboud Skills Questionnaire measures alterations in the level of disability of patients with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, but this instrument is currently not available in German.

The goals of our study were to translate the Dutch Radboud Skills Questionnaire into German and to assess its external criterion validity with the German version of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Questionnaire.

Methods: We translated the Radboud Skills Questionnaire according to published guidelines. Demographic data and validity were assessed in 57 consecutive patients with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome 1 of the upper extremity.

Information on age, duration of symptoms, type of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome 1 and type of initiating event was obtained. We assessed the external criterion validity by comparing the German Radboud Skills Questionnaire and the German Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Questionnaire and calculated the prediction intervals.

Results: Score values ranged from 55.4+22.0 for the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Questionnaire score and 140.1+39.2 for the Radboud Skills Questionnaire.

We found a high correlation between the Radboud Skills Questionnaire and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Questionnaire (R2=0.83).

Conclusion: This validation of the Radboud Skills Questionnaire demonstrates that this German version is a simple and accurate instrument to assess and quantify disabilities of patients suffering from Complex Regional Pain Syndrome 1 of the upper extremity for clinical and research purposes.

Credits/Source: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 2010, 11:107

SOURCE: BioMed Central (open access)

Diagnostic criteria in patients with complex regional pain syndrome assessed in an out-patient clinic

July 10th, 2010

Study conducted at Department of Anesthesiology, Pain Treatment Centre.

Published: 23 April 2010

ABSTRACT – Full document at Wiley InterScience

Methods: We included 195 patients who were referred to our pain clinic within a period of 1 year. Data were collected on patient characteristics, signs, symptoms, disease-related medication, and the background of the referring clinicians.

Results: The Harden and Bruehl criteria were confirmed in 95 patients (49%). These patients used a higher than average number of analgesics, opiates, and anti-oxidants, and frequently received prescriptions for benzodiazepines instead of anti-depressants. The mean disease duration was 29 ± 4.6 months and the mean visual analogue score for pain was 8.1 ± 0.19. A subgroup of patients had a colder temperature in the affected extremity compared with the unaffected extremity. This subgroup showed a longer disease duration and higher visual analogue scale pain.

Conclusion: The diagnostic criteria used to determine CRPS should be further improved. A large number of referred patients experienced substantial pain, without receiving adequate medication. Disease-related medication is unrelated to CRPS-specific disease activity. Knowledge of underlying mechanisms is warranted before an adequate pharmaceutical intervention can be considered.

E. A. M. VAN BODEGRAVEN HOF 1 , G. J. GROENEWEG 1 , F. WESSELDIJK 1 , F. J. P. M. HUYGEN 1 and F. J. ZIJLSTRA 11 Department of Anesthesiology, Pain Treatment Centre, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, the Netherlands

Correspondence to Address: J. George Groeneweg, Department of Anesthesiology Pain Treatment Centre Erasmus MCPO Box 20403000 CA Rotterdam The Netherlands | e-mail: j.groeneweg(at)erasmusmc.nl
Accepted for publication 23 April 2010
DIGITAL OBJECT IDENTIFIER (DOI)10.1111/j.1399-6576.2010.02251.x About DOI