Association between inpatient AUDIT-C alcohol screening scores and postoperative outcomes: a retrospective cohort study.

This case report describes a female ballet dancer in her early forties who started inpatient rehabilitation 10 months after being diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) type II in her left foot. Using a novel therapeutic approach, in which Intensive Visual Simulation (IVS) is part of the treatment plan, altered the progress of her rehabilitation. The patient presented with known CRPS risk factors, including female sex, extremity surgery, and psychological stress (). CRPS was diagnosed with the Budapest Diagnostic Criteria, published by the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) (). CRPS occurs in all racial groups (), with a higher prevalence in females (). Epidemiological data remain limited. A recent meta-analysis from 2025 reported pooled global prevalence rates of 3.04% at 12 and 6.46% at 24 months (). In Europe, 5 per 10,000 individuals are affected, with 14–27% continuing to meet the diagnostic criteria after 12 months (). CRPS is defined as a chronic pain disorder characterized by pain disproportionate to the inciting event that persists beyond normal tissue healing (). This is often accompanied by sensory, motor, and autonomic disturbances like allodynia, hyperalgesia, skin discolouration, temperature asymmetry, and sudomotor alterations (). CRPS is commonly triggered by trauma or surgery and is classified into type I (no confirmed nerve injury) and type II (with nerve injury) (). The pathophysiology of CRPS is multifactorial, involving inflammatory processes, peripheral and central sensitization, autonomic dysfunction, and neuroplastic changes (). Additionally, behavioural factors like fear avoidance and disuse may worsen functional outcomes (). Higher self-efficacy has been associated with improved long-term function and reduced disability in chronic pain populations ().