[Vitamin C in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome in Patients with Distal Radius Fracture].

To evaluate the effect of vitamin C in preventing complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) in patients with fracture of the distal end of the radius (FDER). The present study included FDER patients with an indication for surgical treatment and aged over 18 years. We evaluated age group, gender, dominance, presence of comorbidities, affected side, trauma mechanism, and surgical technique. Participants were randomized into 2 groups: placebo ( N = 64), which received microcrystalline cellulose, and intervention ( N = 58), treated with 1 g/day of vitamin C in a single dose for 60 days, starting immediately after surgery. The incidence of neuropathic pain was on average 17% higher in the placebo group than in the vitamin C one during the evaluation period ( p = 0.008). The average visual analog scale (VAS) for pain was 1.22 points higher in the placebo group regardless of the evaluation moment ( p = 0.001). The CRPS at 12 and 24 weeks was statistically more frequent in the placebo group ( p = 0.014 and 0.007, respectively). Vitamin C has an effect on preventing neuropathic pain and CRPS, as well as on controlling postoperative pain.