Institut für Klinische Strahlenkunde, Klinikums der Johannes-Gutenberg-Universität Mainz.
The X-ray film is one of the cornerstones in the diagnosis of Sudeck's syndrome. However, a number of clinical signs must also be present; they are in fact of decisive importance in the differential diagnostic delineation against inactivity demineralisation. Bone scintigraphy reveals typical changes with a high degree of sensitivity already in the initial stage of Sudeck's syndrome. The article reviews the aetiology and pathophysiology of the syndrome and, basing on these fundamentals the clinical signs and the radiologically visible changes as well as the criteria applying to diagnosis using nuclear medicine.