The incidence of hypovitaminosis-D in hip fracture, a retrospective study

Background Hip fracture is a major and expanding problem faced by orthopaedic surgeons. Accepted risk factors for hip fracture include age, female sex, and osteoporosis. Emerging evidence suggests that hypovitaminosis-D, by contributing to osteoporosis, also may predispose to hip fracture. Despite this theory's obvious interest to orthopaedists, few related studies exist in the orthopaedic literature. Methods We hypothesized that most patients presenting to our institution with acute hip fracture would have suboptimal levels of vitamin-D, and we sought to identify the incidence of hypovitaminosis-D in this population. We undertook a retrospective chart review of 50 patients for whom vitamin-D levels were obtained after presenting to our institution's emergency department with acute hip fracture. Patients were stratified according to type of fracture, sex, and age. Standard statistical values were calculated. Results Most (80%) of the study population demonstrated insufficient (32%) or deficient (48%) levels of vitamin-D. Conclusions Inadequate vitamin-D likely is one of many interrelated risk factors for hip fracture. Further study and the attention of orthopaedists are indicated to detail the nature of this risk and to optimize interventions.