The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy of
salmon calcitonin, which was suggested as effective in the treatment of
complex regional pain syndrome type 1 (CRPS 1). Patients who had suffered
trauma to their upper extremities and developed CRPS 1 were included into this randomised, controlled single-blind study. The diagnosis was made according to the clinical examination and scintigraphy. The evaluation parameters were:
pain [visual analogue scale (VAS)], the angle of dorsiflexion (DF) and palmar flexion (PF) of the wrist, distance between the fingertip and distal palmar crease (FT-DPC),
allodynia,
hyperalgesia and trophic changes. One group received
paracetamol 1500 m/day and the other group
salmon calcitonin 200 IU/day for 2 months. All of the patients participated in a
physical therapy and exercise programme. A total of 35 patients were divided into two groups, who were found to be similar for age, body mass index, period of
trauma, period of rest in a plaster
splint or
bandage, the duration of symptoms, VAS, DF and PF angle, FT-DPC, presence of
allodynia,
hyperalgesia and trophic changes (p>0.05). The control examination showed similar results for
allodynia,
hyperalgesia and trophic changes, whereas remarkable improvement was observed in the rest of the parameters within groups. On the other hand, between the two groups there was no significant difference in any of the parameters (p>0.05) This randomised, single-blind study showed that all of the patients with acute CRPS 1 in their upper extremities after
trauma, who were treated with either
paracetamol or
calcitonin along with
physical therapy, recovered in all parameters significantly, but without any difference between groups. We can conclude that
calcitonin does not make any favourable contribution in the treatment of patients with acute CRPS 1;
physical therapy combined with only a simple
analgesic is an efficient means of
therapy.