Session Speaker

The Administration of Vitamin C in Prevention of CRPS-I in Traumatology and Orthopaedic Surgery
Paul E. Zollinger, Robert W. Kreis , Roelf S. Breederveld , Wim E. Tuinebreijer
The Netherlands

Complex regional pain syndrome type I (CRPS-I) is an affliction that can occur after trauma to an arm or leg. It is characterized by a combination of autonomous, sensory and vasomotor symptoms.

The pathogenesis of CRPS is not clear, nor is there a definitive treatment for this syndrome. The morbidity and costs in health care justify the search for a means to prevent CRPS. The diagnosis is made clinically and CRPS occurs relatively frequently after wrist fractures and most often in females.

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is a water soluble vitamin that protects against scurvy and it acts as a strong anti-oxidant. By scavenging radicals, vitamin C halts free-radical reactions and prevents the propagation of chain reactions. In this way vitamin C protects the capillary endothelium and circulating cells.

The results of our two RCT's comparing vitamin C and placebo in the prevention of CRPS after distal radial fractures, were pooled for the analysis of the occurrence of CRPS. It is concluded that vitamin C reduces the chance on the occurrence of CRPS-I after wrist fractures, if it is started on the day of the fracture in a dose of 500 mg per day during 50 days.