NBCOT Upper Extremity Practice Test

A signal that CRPS may be present after a distal radius fracture is pain that is out of proportion to the injury and lasts with ongoing swelling. CRPS involves abnormal autonomic and pain processing after trauma, so the area becomes chronically painful and edematous beyond what would be expected from the fracture alone. You may also see changes in skin color or temperature and reduced motion, but the defining clue is persistent, disproportionate pain paired with swelling that doesn’t follow typical healing timelines. Recognizing this early is important because it prompts timely evaluation and management to prevent progression, including pain control and rehabilitation strategies that focus on gradual movement and desensitization. Quick healing, normal range of motion, or absence of pain would not fit the CRPS pattern.