| Methods | Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over, no enrichment Gabapentin titrated to maximum of 1800 mg daily over 5 days, then stable dose for remainder of 3-week treatment period; 2-week washout then cross-over |
|
| Participants | Complex regional pain syndrome type 1 (IASP criteria for diagnosis). N = 58, mean age 44 years, 17% women. Pain duration before treatment > 3/10, initial pain intensity 6. 3/10 46 patients completed both periods, with 12 excluded from analysis because they withdrew at some stage. Analysis performed only on complete data sets |
|
| Interventions | Gabapentin 1800 mg daily Placebo Usual analgesics continued without dose changes |
|
| Outcomes | Much improved (per protocol) Adverse events Withdrawals |
|
| Notes | Oxford Quality Score: R = 2, DB = 2, W = 1, Total = 5 | |
| Risk of bias | ||
| Item | Authors’ judgement | Description |
| Allocation concealment? | Yes | “closed envelopes containing assignments were prenumbered and kept at the pharmacy” |
| Blinding? All outcomes |
Yes | “identical placebo capsules” |
| Incomplete outcome data addressed? Efficacy |
No | Analysis performed on completers |
| Size Efficacy |
No | Only 46 in final analysis |
| Study duration Efficacy |
Unclear | 3-week period |
| Outcomes reported | Unclear | Much improved |