ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To verify the reproducibility of measurement of transcutaneous oxygen tension (TcPo(2)) on the back of the hand in control subjects and stroke patients in the assessment of the complex regional pain syndrome type I (CRPS I). DESIGN: Case series study. SETTING: Physical medicine and rehabilitation department at a university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Eighteen control subjects, 30 stroke patients without CRPS I, and 12 stroke patients with CRPS I. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: TcPo(2) was measured on the back of hands on 2 consecutive days using a polarographic technique. The reproducibility was evaluated by using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and the coefficient of variation. RESULTS: In the controls, the values of TcPo(2) were not reproducible, with an ICC of.51 (95% confidence interval [CI],.23-.72). Similarly, in the hemiplegics with and without CRPS I, TcPo(2) was not reproducible, with an ICC of.43 (95% CI, -.15 to.74) and.69 (95% CI,.45-.84), respectively. The differences between the 2 upper limbs were even less reproducible in each population. CONCLUSIONS: Measurement of TcPo(2) on the hand using our procedure did not seem to be sufficiently reproducible for application to a pathology such as CRPS I.