Abstract
Vitamin D is vital for bone health because it assists in the absorption and utilisation of calcium. Vitamin D deficiency may predispose individuals to developing osteoporosis and subsequent osteoporotic fracture. There are various studies in elderly females with hip fractures correlating the low bone mineral density (BMD) with vitamin D levels. But very few studies have evaluated the influence on elderly males. Therefore this study was conducted.
All male patients aged more than 50 years presenting to orthopaedic department, in JIPMER, Puducherry, with either fracture neck of femur or intertrochanteric fracture were included. Serum vitamin D level was assessed in them and BMD of both the hips was evaluated by DEXA scan. The vitamin D levels, T-scores, Z-scores were then analysed and correlated.
Of the total 41 patients evaluated 21 (51%) had fracture neck of the femur and 20 (49%) patients had intertrochanteric fractures. We found that 11 (26.8%) patients had osteoporosis, 17 (41.5%) had osteopenia, and 13 (31.7%) had normal values. The mean value of total T-scores on fracture side was −1.55 and on no fracture side was −1.88. Among them 9 (22%) patients had vitamin D level <20 ng /mL, 15 (36%) had levels between 20ng–30ng/mL and 17 (41%) had >30ng/mL. Total T-score and Z-score on fracture side and no fracture side showed no correlation with vitamin D (p value >0.05) in these patients.
We found significant osteoporosis in both neck and trochanteric regions on both fracture and no fracture sides, yet we had some patients with trochanteric fracture and some with neck fracture on only one side. In view of this other factors like mode of injury, velocity of injury, muscle wasting might have contributed significantly to the type of fracture and side involved. The BMD was found to be lower in patients with neck of femur fracture compared to intertrochanteric fracture, but no correlation was found between vitamin D and BMD scores at neck and trochanteric region.
From this study it appears that there is no direct relationship between the vitamin D level and BMD in elderly males with hip fractures. It may emphasise that in male patients with hip fractures vitamin D may not have critical role in development of osteoporosis. The treatment of such patients with vitamin D supplements to prevent hip fractures is still debatable. However further studies in very large groups and controls may bring more light on this subject.
