The Ehlers–Danlos Syndromes

An Osteopathic Family Physician will encounter hypermobile patients. Hypermobility is a symptom of many of the subtypes of the Ehlers Danlos Syndromes (EDS). With the updated classification system (the 2017 International Classification of the Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes) it is important for the osteopathic family physician to become familiar with the EDS patient. The classification system identifies 13 subtypes of EDS.1 Of these 13, 12 have a recognized genetic basis. Hypermobile EDS (hEDS) has a clinical diagnosis criteria checklist (Figure 1, page 29). There is opportunity for the osteopathic family physician community to help diagnose and treat the EDS population. This article seeks to have the osteopathic family physician become familiar with the Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, and provide an overview of all of the subtypes of EDS, including hEDS and discusses signs, symptoms, and risks associated with the syndrome.