After a child is noted to have joint hypermobility,  the most common causes include:

1. Familial laxity of joints

2. Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes

3. Other rare conditions such as Marfan syndrome, etc.

 

Below are the most common symptoms that specialists look for when reviewing a patient’s compatibility with joint hypermobility and the Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes.

Which one of these can you relate to?

General

• Prematurity- Birth that occurs before the 37 weeks.
• Motor Delay- Delay in movement, walking or speech in developing children.

Musculoskeletal

• Developmental dysplasia of the Hip (DDH)- Hip dislocation.
• Club Foot- A birth defect where the foot is twisted out of shape or position.
• Joint Contractures- Shortening of joints.
• Hernia- A bulging of an organ or tissue through an abnormal opening.
• Scoliosis- Spine has sideways curve.
• Prolapse of bladder, uterus, or rectum- When organ drifts downward out of position.
• Pectus Deformity- Breastbone sinks into chest.
• Pes Planus- Flat feet, when soles touch the floor.
• Joint Laxity- Flexible, hypermobile joints.
• Joint Dislocations- Joints forced out of place.
• Recurrent Sprains- Constant joint sprains.
• Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction symptoms (TMJ)- Problems with jaw bone function.
• Joint Pain- Discomfort where two or more joints meet.
• Premature Arthritis- or Rheumatoid Arthritis, chronic inflammation of the joints.
• Epiphyseal Dysplasia- A cartilage and bone development disorder.
• Osteopenia- Low bone mineral density.
• Fractures- Complete or partial break in bone.

Skin

• Striae- Long, red and bulgy stretch marks.
• Bruisability- A contusion that appears on the skin in response to trauma.
• Skin Hyperextensibility- Stretchy, elastic skin.
• Tearing- Skin separates from dermis.
• Slow Healing- Wound takes longer than a few weeks to heal.
• Varicosities- Enlarged, dilated or twisty veins usually in arms and legs.
• Easy Bleeding- Bleeding occurs too frequently or is triggered unexplainably.
• Unusual Tissue Findings at Surgery- Scar tissue or tumors.

Cardiovascular

• Arterial or Intestinal Rupture- Bleeding in the arteries or intestines.
• Postural Hypotension- When a person’s heart cannot fight gravity fast enough and blood pressure falls as a result of standing up from a sitting or lying position.
• Chest Pain- Not heart related (atypical) discomfort in the breastbone.
• Palpitations- Rapid, strong or irregular heartbeat.
• Mitral Valve Prolapse (MVP)- Displacement of the heart’s mitral valve leaflets into the left atrium.
• Aortic Dilation/Aneurysm- Enlargement of the aorta.
• Severe Myopia- Chronic nearsightedness.
• Lens Dislocation- When the eye lens move out of position.
• Vitreoretinal Degeneration- Degeneration of the virteous and retina of the eye.
• Retinal Detachment- When the retina of the eye pulls away from the supportive tissue.
• Cataract- Clouding of the eye lens, which leads to decreased vision.
• Pneumothorax- A collapsed lung.

Gastrointestinal

• GE Reflux- When stomach acid or bile irritates the food pipe lining.
• Gastritis- Inflammation, irritation, or erosion of the lining of the stomach.
• Delayed Gastric Emptying- A condition that prevents or delays the passage of food from the stomach to the small intestine.
• Irritable Bowel Symptoms (IBS)- A defective large intestine. Symptoms include abdominal pain, excess gas, diarrhea, and mucus in stool.

Other

• Narrow Palate- An unusually high and narrow palate in the mouth.
• Dental Crowding- A lack of space for all teeth to fit normally in the jaw.
• Orthodontic Treatment- Straightening of moving teeth, usually with braces.
• Cleft Palate- Openings or splits in the roof of the mouth or lip.
• Periodontal Disease (Friability, Gingivitis, or Gum Recession)- Disease or infection that damages the gums or can destroy the jaw bone.
• Hearing Loss- Total or significant loss of hearing.
• Attention deficit/hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)–  Attention deficiency and hyperactivity.
• Depression- A mental health disorder characterized by mood changes and loss of interest in activities which can severely impair daily life.

If you have experienced two or more of the symptoms above, you should speak with your primary care provider to determine whether you should be seen by a cardiologist.