Frequency of Complications and Mortality Due to Intertrochanteric Fracture of the Hip Joint in Individuals Over 60 Years of Age Receiving Vitamin D

Vitamin D deficiency in humans is a major health problem worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the effect of vitamin D supplementation in reducing mortality and complications after intertrochanteric fracture of the hip joint.

In this clinical trial, 100 patients over 60 years of age with hip fractures and serum levels of vitamin D less than 20 ng/ml referring to Besat Hospital in Hamadan, Iran, were selected and randomly assigned to one of the intervention or control groups. The intervention group was given vitamin D in a vial of 600,000 units IM. Data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 23).

The mean age of the patients in the intervention and control groups were 78.04±8.50 and 79.40±7.30 years, respectively (P=0.430). Regarding gender, 54% of the patients in the intervention group and 60% in the control group were men. Mean serum levels of vitamin D were 15.48±4.03 and 14.23±3.28 ng/ml, respectively. The frequencies of mortality within one year after surgery were 8% and 18% (P=0.137), and the frequencies of complications were 4% and 14% (P=0.160).

The injection of vitamin D supplement in the form of a single dose of 600,000 muscle units in patients over 60 years of age with vitamin D deficiency and intertrochanteric fracture of the hip joint reduced one-year mortality and complications. However, this reduction was not significant compared to the control group.