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Updated: Aug 10, 2026
Electrophysiological Measurements and Analysis of Nociception in Human Infants
Published on: December 20, 2011
[Orthopedic problems in children with congenital insensitivity to pain]
Insights
Children with congenital insensitivity to pain experience severe self-injuries and bone infections like osteomyelitis. Early childhood infections and skeletal complications highlight the challenges of this rare condition.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Pediatrics
- Neurology
Background:
- Congenital insensitivity to pain (CIP) is a rare genetic disorder.
- It is characterized by the inability to feel physical pain.
- CIP can lead to severe injuries and medical complications.
Observation:
- Three children with CIP presented with recurrent self-injuries during dentition.
- All experienced fevers of unknown origin and/or pneumonia in infancy/early childhood.
- Osteomyelitis of various bones was a common complication, requiring surgical intervention.
Findings:
- Specific bone sites affected included the tibia, metatarsals, femur, and jaw.
- One child exhibited hip dislocations, lumbar arthropathy, and limb shortening due to epiphyseal fusion.
- Other observed complications included osteochondritis dissecans, elbow deformity, and post-traumatic cataract.
Implications:
- Early diagnosis and management are crucial for preventing severe injuries in children with CIP.
- Understanding the spectrum of complications aids in comprehensive patient care.
- Further research into the genetic basis and therapeutic strategies for CIP is warranted.
Abstract:
Three children with congenital insensitivity to pain are described. Self-injuries of the tongue and fingers occurred during dentition. At infancy and early childhood fever of unknown origin and/or pneumoniae were observed in all children. All of them also suffered from osteomyelitis of various bones treated with antibiotics and surgery. The tibia and metatarsals were involved in one case, the tibia, metatarsals and the femur in second child and the jaw plus metatarsals in the third case. In one child the hip has been dislocated twice after minor trauma, lumbar arthropathy, distal femoral epiphyseal fusion causing shortening of the extremity by 4.5 cm, osteochondritis dissecans of the medial femoral condyle, elbow deformity after displaced fracture of the lateral humeral condyle and post-traumatic cataract were observed.
