Post-traumatic complex regional pain syndrome type 1: Risk factors and the potential clinical relevance of magnesium depletion score

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate whether the magnesium depletion score (MDS), an indicator of magnesium deficiency, is associated with the development of complex regional pain syndrome type 1 (CRPS-1) in patients with traumatic extremity injuries. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between November 2024 and May 2025, a total of 117 patients who suffered from traumatic extremity injuries were included. Demographic and clinical data of the patients were collected and recorded, and the MDS was calculated. Age, sex, body mass index (BMI), smoking status, alcohol consumption, diabetes, hypertension, duration of immobilization, MDS, and injury-related characteristics were evaluated as potential risk factors for CRPS-1 development. RESULTS: Of the patients, 40 were male and 77 were female with a mean age of 51.9 ± 15.01 (range, 20 to 91 years). In a total of 42.7% of patients with traumatic extremity injuries, CRPS-1 developed. The female-to-male ratio was higher among patients with CRPS-1 than among those without. The MDS, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, and alcohol consumption were not found to be independent risk factors. However, prolonged immobilization (more than one month) was found to be an independent risk factor for the development of CRPS-1. CONCLUSION: Our study results suggest that the MDS score is not a risk factor for developing CRPS-1, but immobilization for more than one month significantly increases the risk. Taken together, these findings indicate that the duration of immobilization following injury may be a more decisive factor in the development of CRPS-1 than demographic and clinical characteristics.