Introduction Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) as a complication of total knee arthroplasty (TKR) is rarely mentioned. The literature has been limited to 58 cases of RSD in TKR, a prevalence of 0.8% of all TKR done. No previous reports give a clear understanding as what to expect in the long term after the diagnosis of RSD post TKR has been made nor do they report the struggle that patients undergo to achieve their result.

Methods We report on 11 cases of RSD diagnosed post TKR, operated on by one of us from 1991 to 2001. All patients met diagnostic criteria for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, Type 1. Specifically they exhibited slow post-operative recovery and delayed return of normal function. Flexion was limited and cutaneous hypersensitivity was present along with temperature changes in the limb. These patients were evaluated using general and disease specific outcome tools previously validated in the literature, the SF-36 and WOMAC scores. In addition they were evaluated clinically at minimum two years following resolution of symptoms.

Results We found that once appropriate treatment had been instituted, which in our case was manipulation under anaesthetic in the painfree phase of CRPS-I, the majority of our patients reported higher scores on the bodily pain section of SF-36 however these were still lower than age matched controls of pre-operative osteoarthritic patients as determined by WOMAC scores. In general, though patients had poorer SF-36 and WOMAC scores than primary uncomplicated TKR, they did significantly better than primary osteoarthritics without surgery.

Conclusions This would suggest that when appropriately managed, RSD after TKR does not hold the dire prognostic consequences as previously thought.