Description

This systematic review concluded that pain is by no means negligible in people with achondroplasia. After reviewing 192 papers, the authors believe that systematic pain assessment contributes to the optimal management of physical symptoms and their psychosocial correlates, which could enhance quality of life.

Pain and pain-related diseases are a root cause of disability and disease burden worldwide. But there are many different assessment tools used in people with achondroplasia, and the majority are not disease-specific. In addition, the prevalence of pain increases over the lifespan. In adolescence, 58.6% and 32.9% report pain in at least one and three sites, respectively; this increases to 70.3% and 41.9% in adulthood.

Recognising the multiple determinants of acute and chronic pain in patients with achondroplasia may enable physicians to better understand and manage this burden. This is particularly important with the advent of pharmacological options that may modify achondroplasia features. Since pain is a common burden in people with achondroplasia, it should be carefully monitored and assessed at every medical check-up.