• Andreas Goebel, Chris Barker, Frank Birklein, Florian Brunner, Roberto Casale, Chris Eccleston, E Eisenberg, Candy S McCabe, G Lorimer Moseley, R Perez, Serge Perrot, Astrid Terkelsen, Ilona Thomassen, Andrzey Zyluk, and Chris Wells.
• Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK.
• Eur J Pain. 2019 Apr 1; 23 (4): 641-651.

BackgroundComplex regional pain syndrome is a painful and disabling post-traumatic primary pain disorder. Acute and chronic complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) are major clinical challenges. In Europe, progress is hampered by significant heterogeneity in clinical practice. We sought to establish standards for the diagnosis and management of CRPS.MethodsThe European Pain Federation established a pan-European task force of experts in CRPS who followed a four-stage consensus challenge process to produce mandatory quality standards worded as grammatically imperative (must-do) statements.ResultsWe developed 17 standards in 8 areas of care. There are 2 standards in diagnosis, 1 in multidisciplinary care, 1 in assessment, 3 for care pathways, 1 in information and education, 4 in pain management, 3 in physical rehabilitation and 2 on distress management. The standards are presented and summarized, and their generation and consequences were discussed. Also presented are domains of practice for which no agreement on a standard could be reached. Areas of research needed to improve the validity and uptake of these standards are discussed.ConclusionThe European Pain Federation task force present 17 standards of the diagnosis and management of CRPS for use in Europe. These are considered achievable for most countries and aspirational for a minority of countries depending on their healthcare resource and structures.SignificanceThis position statement summarizes expert opinion on acceptable standards for CRPS care in Europe.© 2019 European Pain Federation - EFIC®.

23 keywords...

hide…