Serum Vitamin D Levels in Patients With Distal Radius Fractures Presenting to a Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

To compare the frequency of serum vitamin D levels in patients with and without distal radius fracture. MethodologyThis study was conducted at The Indus Hospital Karachi, from 1st March 2020 to 31st August 2020. Consecutive non-probability sampling was done. Patients aged between 20 to 80 years with and without distal radius fractures were enrolled and serum vitamin D levels were compared. ResultsA total of 130 patients were enrolled in this study, out of which 70 (53.8%) were males. The median (IQR) vitamin D, calcium, alkaline phosphate level, and albumin was 14.8 (9.5-23) ng/ml, 9.2 (8.9-9.5) ng/ml, 91 (77.3-111) U/L, and 4.2 (4-4.5) g/dl, respectively. No significant association between distal radius fracture and vitamin D levels was found in males, whereas a significantly higher proportion of females with no fracture had a mild-moderate deficiency in comparison to females with fracture. ConclusionNo significant association was noted between patients with and without distal radius fracture and vitamin D levels, however, we recommend more studies on this topic so that more comprehensive results can be obtained.

Pre-existing osteoporosis and serum vitamin D levels in patients with distal radius fractures: are we missing something?

“…The vitamin D levels obtained were in line with those found in other studies for the total population, without focusing on patients with distal radius fractures [17]. Chinoy et al [18] also looked at vitamin D levels in patients with distal radius fractures and reported a mean level of 37.5 nmol/ml, similar to that found in the Karachi patients. Similarly, in their study of Korean women, Jang et al [19] found that patients with distal radius fractures had lower serum vitamin D level.…”

“…The study population is small, but corresponds to the number of patients in studies on the determination of vitamin D levels in patients with distal radius fractures [18][19][20]25]. Another limitation is the documentation of the supplements, which was primarily derived from the patient survey and medication plan.…”