Revisiting Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome as a Relative Contraindication to Elective Plastic Surgery: A Retrospective Matched...

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Connective Tissue Diseases
• Patient Safety

Background:

• Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS) are connective tissue disorders linked to poor wound healing and surgical risks.
• Previous concerns exist regarding elevated surgical complication rates in EDS patients.
• This study investigates the safety of elective plastic surgery in EDS patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the safety and complication rates of elective plastic surgery in patients with Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes.
• To compare surgical outcomes in EDS patients against a matched control group.
• To test the hypothesis that EDS patients do not experience higher complication rates.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study of 100 EDS patients and 100 matched controls (2003-2023).
• Patients matched for comorbidities and wound healing factors.
• Complication rates categorized by severity and timing; analyzed using paired t-tests and McNemar's tests.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in overall complication rates between EDS patients (25%) and controls (35%), p=0.16.
• Minor complication rates were similar: 19% in EDS patients vs. 24% in controls (p=0.39).
• Major complication rates were also similar: 6% in EDS patients vs. 12% in controls (p=0.20).

Conclusions:

• Elective plastic surgery can be safely performed in patients with Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes.
• The study supports the safety of surgical interventions for EDS patients, especially those with hypermobile EDS.
• Findings challenge previous assumptions about elevated surgical risks in EDS patients.