Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40141468›Full record

ReviewInternational journal of molecular sciences2025

An Emerging Perspective on the Role of Fascia in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: A Narrative Review.

Carmelo Pirri, Nina Pirri, Lucia Petrelli, Caterina Fede, Raffaele De Caro, Carla Stecco

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in International journal of molecular sciences, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
9citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

9 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Article
  5. Review
  6. Review
  7. Article
  8. Review
  9. Exploring fascia in myofascial pain syndrome: an integrative model of mechanisms.Frontiers in pain research (Lausanne, Switzerland) · 2025
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Carmelo PirriDepartment of Neuroscience, Institute of Human Anatomy, University of Padova, 35121 Padova, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-0119-6549
Nina PirriDepartment of Medicine-DIMED, School of Radiology, Radiology Institute, University of Padua, 35121 Padova, Italy.
Lucia PetrelliDepartment of Neuroscience, Institute of Human Anatomy, University of Padova, 35121 Padova, Italy.
Caterina FedeDepartment of Neuroscience, Institute of Human Anatomy, University of Padova, 35121 Padova, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-4372-7889
Raffaele De CaroDepartment of Neuroscience, Institute of Human Anatomy, University of Padova, 35121 Padova, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-2307-0277
Carla SteccoDepartment of Neuroscience, Institute of Human Anatomy, University of Padova, 35121 Padova, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-8767-4555

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a debilitating pain disorder involving chronic inflammation, neural sensitization and autonomic dysfunction. Fascia, a highly innervated connective tissue, is increasingly recognized for its role in pain modulation, yet its contribution to CRPS remains underexplored. This narrative review synthesizes the current evidence on fascia's involvement in CRPS pathophysiology and potential therapeutic strategies. A literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science, selecting studies on fascia, CRPS, inflammation, oxidative stress and autonomic dysfunction, with emphasis on recent experimental, anatomical and clinical research. Fascia contributes to CRPS through neuroinflammation, fibrosis and autonomic dysregulation. Its rich innervation facilitates peripheral and central sensitization, while inflammatory mediators drive fibrosis, reducing elasticity and exacerbating pain. Autonomic dysfunction worsens hypoxia and oxidative stress, fueling chronic dysfunction. Advances in sonoelastography provide new insights, while fascial manipulation and targeted therapies show promise in early studies. Fascia plays a key role in CRPS pathophysiology, yet its clinical relevance remains underexplored. Future research integrating imaging, molecular profiling and clinical trials is needed to develop evidence-based fascia-targeted interventions, potentially improving CRPS diagnosis and treatment.

Indexed as

Complex Regional Pain SyndromesFasciaAnimalsHumansInflammationOxidative Stressblood vesselsdeep fasciafree nerve endingsnervous autonomic systemoxidative stresspainsuperficial fascia

Identifiers

PMID40141468
PMCPMC11942918

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.