The Role of Preoperative Vitamin D in Spine Surgery
A Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med . 2022 Dec 20. doi: 10.1007/s12178-022-09813-z
nitesh Bajaj 1, Rohan M Shah 2, Alyssa M Goodwin 2, Steven Kurapaty 2, Alpesh A Patel 2, Srikanth N Divi 2
Purpose of review: Vitamin D is an essential micronutrient for human bone health and maintenance. Patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery with hypovitaminosis D may be at greater risk for worsened clinical outcomes. This narrative review aims to compile the current literature studying the effects of low preoperative vitamin D on spine surgery outcomes, creating a resource that clinicians can use to inform their practice.
Recent findings: Vitamin D deficiency predisposes to worse outcomes following spine surgery. Vitamin D supplementation may be beneficial in reducing the risk for adverse postoperative events; however, the literature is inconclusive regarding its efficacy in improving bone density and fracture risk.
Spine clinicians should be aware of the increased risk for poor outcomes in patients with preoperative vitamin D deficiency. Future investigations are needed to better evaluate the benefits of preoperative vitamin D screening and supplementation on improving surgical outcomes in spine patients. These studies must also consider the effects on perioperative healthcare costs.
References
Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance
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VitaminDWik - Vitamin D is needed before most surgeries - 69 studies
VitaminDWik - Trauma and surgery category contains
Trauma and Surgery category hasLarge dose Vitamin D before surgery was found to help by 35 studies
Vitamin D is needed before most surgeries – many studies and RCTs
4.8 X more likely to die within 28 days of ICU if low Vitamin D - Jan 2024
Sepsis is both prevented and treated by Vitamin D - many studies
Thyroidectomy and Vitamin D - many studies
Orthopaedic surgeries need Vitamin D – many studies
Cancer - After diagnosis chemotherapy
TBI OR "Traumatic Brain Injury - 21 in title as of Sept 2022
Superbug (Clostridium difficile) Infections strongly associated with low vitamin D - many studies
Glutamine and Omega-3 have also been proven to help several traumas/surgeries
Note: Vitamin D also prevents the need for various surgeries and Omega-3 prevents many concussions/TBI
Trauma and Surgery is associated with 22 other VitaminDWiki categories
Such as loading dose 33, Mortality 23, Infant-Child 21 Intervention 19 Cardiovascular 13, Injection 13 in Sept 2022
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