The Effectiveness of Compression Garments for Reducing Pain in Non-Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes: A Prospective Observational Cohort Study

Abstract

Patients with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) frequently suffer from severe chronic pain. We carried out an observational cohort study to assess the effectiveness of compression garments (CGs) for reducing this pain. Patients with non-vascular EDS were given custom-made Cerecare® CGs during a visit to a specialist clinic (visit V0). They were followed up over 2 years with visits every 6 months (V1–V4). At each visit, pain was assessed for the joints treated with CGs using a visual analogue scale (VAS; 0–100 mm). Additional measures were obtained to assess neuropathic pain (painDETECT questionnaire), proprioception/balance (Berg Balance Scale), and functional independence, amongst others. Data were analyzed for 67 patients with EDS (hypermobile: 91%; classical: 6%; kyphoscoliotic: 3%). For the most painful joint, the mean VAS rating was 71.5 ± 22.8 mm at V0; this decreased to 53.5 ± 25.5 mm at V1 and 45.7 ± 29 mm at V4 (t-tests: p p < 0.05 level). These results indicate that CGs may effectively reduce the pain and joint instability in non-vascular EDS patients.

Keywords

• Ehlers-Danlos syndromes
• compression garments
• joint hypermobility
• pain therapy
• orthoses
• sprains