Early use of regional and local anesthesia in a combat environment may prevent the development of complex regional pain syndrome in wounded combatants.

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a relatively common disabling disorder of unknown pathophysiology. CRPS is a variable symptom complex that probably results from multiple causes through different pathophysiological mechanisms. Changes in peripheral, central, somatosensory, autonomic, and motor processing, accompanied by pathological interactions of sympathetic and afferent systems, are observed as underlying mechanisms. Standardized early interventions for patients with extremity wounds may prevent the onset of CRPS or at least reduce the severity or duration of the condition.