Article

OBJECTIVES: To describe medication use, surgery, and physiotherapy, and to
examine the effect of these treatment modalities on functional impairment and
amount of complaints among patients with the hypermobility type of Ehlers-Danlos
syndrome (EDS-HT). DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Physical and
rehabilitation medicine department and center for medical genetics. PARTICIPANTS:
Patients with EDS-HT (N=79; 8 men, 71 women) were recruited for this study.
INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patients filled out
questionnaires regarding type of complaints, medication use, surgery,
physiotherapy, and outcome of treatment. Functional impairment in daily life was
measured by the Sickness Impact Profile. Pain severity was assessed with visual
analog scales. RESULTS: Patients reported a large number of complaints, a
considerable presence of severe pain, and a clinically significant impact of
disease on daily functioning. Most patients (92.4%) used medications, among which
analgesics were the most prevalent. Fifty-six patients (70.9%) underwent surgery,
including mainly interventions of the extremities and abdomen. Forty-one patients
(51.9%) are currently enrolled in a physical therapy program, mainly comprising
neuromuscular exercises, massage, and electrotherapy. Patients with a high
consumption of analgesics, who visited the physiotherapist, or who underwent
surgery had a higher dysfunction in daily life. Only 33.9% of the patients who
underwent surgery and 63.4% of patients in physical therapy reported a positive
outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with EDS-HT have numerous complaints and an
impaired functional status that strongly determine their high rate of treatment
consumption. The outcome of surgical and physiotherapy treatment is disappointing
in a large percentage, which illustrates a strong need for evidence-based
therapy.
CI - Copyright (c) 2011 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS