The Movement Disorder of Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy

We present 43 patients with reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) who manifested abnormalities of movement. The patients have focal dystonia, weakness, spasms, tremor, difficulty initiating movement, and increased tone and reflexes. These motor signs and symptoms may precede other manifestations of the illness by weeks or months. They most frequently, but not invariably, occur concomitantly with sudomotor or vasomotor changes and pain. Lioresal is effective in reducing spasms. Early in the course of RSD, the motor manifestation may be alleviated by intense sympathetic blockade or sympathectomy. In many patients, the movement disorder becomes independent of sympathetic innervation.