Phenobarbital and the Shoulder-Hand Syndrome

Abstract

A history of prior treatment with phenobarbital, of varying duration and dose, was present in 19 out of 29 consecutive cases of bilateral shoulder-hand syndrome and in 6 out of 46 patients with unilateral involvement. A significantly lower incidence of phenobarbital consumption was found in two matched control groups comprising cases of scapulohumeral periarthritis and cervicobrachial neuralgia respectively. The possibility that treatment with phenobarbital predisposes to the shoulder-hand syndrome is discussed.