Effect of mirror therapy on complex regional pain syndrome (type II) after high-level spinal cord injury:a self cross-controlled study / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:Mirror therapy was initial y used in the treatment of affected limb pain after amputation, and has been applied as a valid way for relieving complex regional pain syndrome due to other injuries, but the efficacy for patients with upper limb complex regional pain syndrome (type II) more than 3 years after high-level spinal cord injury has not been reported in any way. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the availability of mirror therapy for reducing pain in a patient with upper limb complex regional pain syndrome (type II) who suffered high-level spinal cord injury. METHODS:An experimental design of self cross-control was applied for al eviating the patient’s pain with the intervention of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and mirror box therapy, which were conducted 2 or 3 weeks respectively. And the elution period between two kinds of treatments was 1 week, the fol ow-up time was 1 month. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The pain of the patient was not relieved, but even aggravated after 2 weeks of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, while 3-week mirror box therapy significantly reduced the pain after elution period (the third week). The Hamilton anxiety scale, Hamilton depression scale, and WHO quality of life scale scores were significantly improved after treatment compared with before treatment. Experimental findings indicate that, mirror therapy may be an effective intervention for mitigating complex regional pain syndrome (type II) in addition to the comprehensive treatments, but further studies are warranted to confirm its effect.