Brain fMRI for Children and Adolescents with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS I and II)

Children and adolescents with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS I or II) may be eligible to participate in a clinical research study conducted by the Children's Hospital Boston and McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts.

Inclusion criteria

Patient must be 9-20 years old
Patient must have Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type I or II (CRPS I or II) affecting one lower extremity only

Summary

Each participant will first meet with a study clinician for preliminary evaluation. Then, over the course of two separate study sessions at the McLean Hospital Brain Imaging Center in Belmont, Massachusetts (one session while the participant is experiencing pain from CRPS and one when he/she is no long experiencing pain) participants will take part in Quantitative Sensory Testing (QST). QST is a safe and accurate method of assessing an individual's sensitivity to touch and cold stimulation on the skin. After initial sensory testing, the participant will receive touch and cold stimulation on the skin during functional MRI. Functional MRI is a safe and non-invasive way of imaging the brain's structure and activation over brief periods of time. In addition to providing a picture of the brain, it shows how the brain responds to different levels of stimulation, and will allow comparison of brain activity between the pain and non-pain states. This study will promote a better understanding of the brain's role in CRPS I and II.

Compensation/Expenses

Participants will receive a $30 gift certificate for each of the two study sessions and a meal voucher for McLean Hospital cafeteria. Parking at McLean Hospital is free.

No other travel expenses will be covered by the study staff.

For more information about this study, please contact:
Dr. Alyssa LeBel, Neurologist, Children's Hospital Boston
or
Jennifer Jaskiewicz, Study Coordinator, Children's Hospital Boston
Pain Treatment Service
333 Longwood Ave, 5th Floor
Boston, MA 02115
Tel: (617) 355 8973
Email: jennifer.jaskiewicz@childrens.harvard.edu

Updated December 16, 2005