Opioid-Free Anesthesia for Patients With Joint Hypermobility Syndrome Undergoing Craneo-Cervical Fixation: A Case-series

Cranio-cervical instability (CCI) has been well identified in diseases regarding connective tissue, such as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome/Hipermobility Type (EDS-HT). These patients frequently suffer from severe widespread pain with very difficult management and control. Chronic neuroinflamation, opioid-induced hyperalgesia, and central sensitization phenomena may explain this complex painful condition. A retrospective, observational, consecutive case series study is designed to determine if opioid-free anesthetic management shows a reduction in postoperative pain and opioid rescues needs in comparison with opioid-based anesthesia management for patients with EDS-HT undergoing crano-cervical fixation.