Aimed at Hand Fellows and Team Physicians of the popular centre specialising in hand and wrist injuries and diseases.

n an outstanding online talk on 9 January, the prestigious Dr Piñal shared valuable information on the latest advances in the treatment of reflex sympathetic dystrophy, also known as Sudeck’s dystrophy or complex regional pain (CRPS).
Reflex sympathetic dystrophy is a chronic, extremely painful musculoskeletal pathology that predominantly affects the upper limb. Symptoms include joint stiffness, limited mobility, burning sensation, skin hypersensitivity, severe swelling, redness and sweating. Although it can manifest itself at any age, it is most common in women aged 40 to 60, although recently there has been an increase in diagnosis among young people.

During the lecture, Dr Piñal discussed his team’s unique perspective on Sudeck’s dystrophy. Contrary to general belief, Dr. Piñal does not consider this condition as a pathology per se, but rather as a diagnostic formula that masks the underlying source of the patient’s real problems. These problems often arise after previous medical interventions, fractures or infectious processes.

Conventional treatment of Sudeck’s dystrophy involves the use of powerful analgesic and neuromodulatory drugs. However, Dr Piñal’s approach goes further. After more than a century since the initial description of “acute inflammatory bone atrophy” by German surgeon Paul Südeck, Dr Piñal and his surgical unit have successfully cured dozens of patients with this diagnosis.

Dr Piñal’s approach involves a thorough re-evaluation of the case and, in some cases, specialised surgery. This surgical procedure requires detailed analysis and expertise to rule out, locate and address the source of the problem, which has often gone unnoticed by other surgeons. The results have been spectacular, offering hope to those suffering from this painful condition.