Successful surgical and multidisciplinary treatment for complex regional pain syndrome resulting from simple hand laceration: a case report

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic pain syndrome characterized by intense hyperalgesia and allodynia, with an unclear etiology and limited definitive treatments. This case involves a 23-year-old female patient who developed CRPS following a simple hand laceration from wine glass shards. After initial primary closure, the patient developed scar contracture at the thumb metacarpophalangeal crease, accompanied by erythema, warmth, heaviness, and hypersensitivity throughout the hand, leading to a CRPS diagnosis. A multidisciplinary approach, including anesthesiology and rehabilitation, confirmed nerve adhesion from scar contracture. Surgical intervention successfully released the adhered scar tissue, fascia, and nerve, followed by rehabilitation therapy. The patient’s functional recovery took nearly 6 months. This case highlights that CRPS can result from minor injuries due to scar-induced nerve entrapment and emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis and interdisciplinary treatment for gradual recovery.