Orthognathic Surgery in Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome: Review of the Literature and Case Report

EDS (Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome) is a heterogenous group of inheritable connective tissue disorders that commonly precludes patients from being elective surgical candidates. Patients with EDS are at a higher risk of increased bleeding, delayed wound healing, and temporomandibular joint pain refractory to treatment. Historically, patients with EDS and TMJ disorders are considered inappropriate surgical candidates due to a higher risk of delayed wound healing, increased risk for uncontrolled post-surgical bleeding, and unsubstantiated outcomes in regards to elective orthognathic surgery. A review of the literature demonstrates a paucity of data accounting the use of orthognathic surgery and maxillary-mandibular advancement in patients with EDS. The present study reports on the use of orthognathic double jaw surgery in a patient with a known diagnosis of hypermobile EDS, history of TMJ subluxation and pain. This case describes a 47-year-old woman with a history of hypermobile EDS who presented with Angle Class II malocclusion, Class II skeletal pattern, and clockwise rotation of the occlusal plane associated with pain at the bilateral TMJs. She underwent maxillary-mandibular advancement with counterclockwise rotation of the occlusal plane and genioplasty. The surgery was without complications, and at 22 months follow up, the patient healed uneventfully with improvement of pain and range of motion. This case report demonstrates that with diligent patient selection, orthognathic surgery in patients with EDS can be safe and effective and should not be an absolute contraindication.

Urogenital and pelvic complications in the Ehlers-Danlos syndromes and associated hypermobility spectrum disorders: A scoping review

The Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) and associated hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD) are a heterogenous group of connective tissue disorders associated with significant morbidity. The urogenital aspects of these disorders are understudied and there is little guidance on the prevalence, types, or outcomes of urogenital complications in EDS/HSD. Our objective was to perform a scoping review to characterize and synthesize the literature reporting urogenital and pelvic complications in EDS/HSD patients. We performed a systematic search of three databases (Medline, CINAHL, Embase) to January 2019. English language, full-text articles reporting on urogenital or pelvic complications in EDS/HSD were included. A total of 105 studies were included (62 case reports/series, 43 observational) involving patients with hypermobile (23%), vascular (20%), classical (12%) EDS, and HSD (24%). Some studies looked at multiple subtypes (11%) or did not report subtype (33%). Reported complications included urinary (41%), gynecological (36%), obstetrical (25%), renal (9%), and men's health problems (7%), with some studies reporting on multiple areas. Urinary and gynecological complications were most prevalent in patients with HSD, while a broad range of complications were reported in EDS. While further research is required, results suggest a higher index of suspicion for urogenital problems is probably warranted in this population.

Complexities of management of a urostomy in Ehlers-Danlos syndrome: a reflective account

Mary (pseudonym) is a 30-year-old woman who underwent a urinary diversion and formation of an ileal conduit/urostomy (urinary stoma) due to the formation of multiple bladder diverticula, which caused micturition difficulties and recurrent urinary tract infections with associated pain and discomfort. The bladder diverticula were caused by Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), a hereditary disorder of the connective tissue or, particulary, defective collagen. Surgical intervention in patients with EDS is prone to complications due to poor wound healing, including issues of dehiscence, postoperative bleeding and poor uptake of anaesthesia and analgesia. After an initial presentation of the syndrome of EDS and Mary's history, this article offers a reflective account (informed by Gibbs' Reflective Cycle) and illustrates the complexities of caring for an individual with EDS who undergoes stoma formation. The author, a stoma care nurse, demonstrates how using purposeful reflection resulted in better understanding and awareness of caring for an individual with a rare syndrome and the nursing challenges this presented.