401 - Resolution of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Symptoms Following Scrambler Therapy in a 13-year-old: A Case Report

A 13-year-old female with a history of complex regional pain syndrome in her left foot following multiple prior surgeries underwent scrambler therapy and subsequently developed near-resolution of her symptoms. 

Case Description:

A patient developed pain in the arch of her left foot at the age of 9 and was found to have an accessory navicular bone. This was surgically removed, and her pain improved with physical therapy (PT). At age 11, her pain worsened and her foot started turning red. She was no longer able to bear weight, and at age 12 she had a second surgery to “clean up the bone.” Post-operatively her pain improved slightly, but later worsened again. She continued to work with PT and tried several neuropathic and anti-inflammatory medications without improvement. She was diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). She completed about four weeks of Scrambler Therapy at age 13, with progressive resolution of her symptoms. Her pain and skin color changes resolved, and she was left with only mild subjective numbness.

Discussions:

Scrambler Therapy is a non-invasive treatment option for CRPS that has been refractory to other treatment. It utilizes trans-cutaneous electrical stimulation of pain fibers to re-organize maladaptive signaling pathways.

Conclusions:

This is an emerging technique, with limited data available to describe outcomes after Scrambler Therapy. This case demonstrates that this can be a viable treatment option, and supports the use of Scrambler Therapy in the pediatric population and in treating patients with refractory CRPS.