Topics

Intro
Cigarette Smoke
Nicotine
Carbon Monoxide
Other Substances
Smoke and Bone
Bone Healing
Wound Healing
Osteonecrosis
Lower Back Pain
Arthritis
Dupuytrens
RSD (CRPS)
Summary
Bibliography

RSD (CRPS)

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) is commonly associated with orthopedic trauma, although it also can occur following other problems such as myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular disease and cervical radiculopathy.3 81 Stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system has been implicated, with an inappropriate increase in sympathetic tone and secondary vasospasm.

An and others noted a high correlation between smoking and the development of RSD.3 Nicotine stimulates the sympathetic nervous system resulting in a marked increase in levels of epinephrine, and norepinephrine20 63 79 80 and a secondary decrease in peripheral blood flow.11 90 91 111 This increase in sympathetic tone is believed to predispose the smoker to the development of RSD following orthopaedic trauma.