Carpal collapse and Sudeck's atrophy.

Acute posttraumatic (Sudeck's) atrophy of the upper extremity is well known. The symptoms and signs are out of proportion to what is to be expected from the inciting event. Typically, bone atrophy is characterized by a focal, patchy, periarticular demineralization pattern, which is usually transient. Remineralization occurs after successful treatment. This report describes a typical case of the clinical syndrome after a wrist sprain but with carpal dissolution and collapse before remineralization.