The Hypermobile Patient

Hypermobility disorders, including the Ehlers-Danlos syndromes, Marfan syndrome and others, affect not only the joints but multiple other body tissues, with significant implications for inpatient management. Extra care is required during airway management, anesthesia, surgery, rehabilitation, and positioning throughout the stay. Some hypermobile individuals manifest heightened allergic reactions; others exhibit reduced responsiveness to local anesthetics. An understanding of hypermobility disorders will help the consultant more effectively manage the patient’s pain while reducing the risk of complications during hospitalization.