A recent study published in the Southern Medical Journal found that an increasing amount of Americans are suffering from Vitamin D deficiency. The problem with any deficiency is that most people are unaware that they aren’t receiving the proper amount until it’s too late.
With Vitamin D deficiency, a person is likely to develop some bone density issues. There are two main bone density problems I deal with on a daily basis:
Weak Bones Leading to Fractures – As bone density shrinks, the likelihood that someone will suffer a fracture increases. Eventually, tasks that were once routine could lead to fractures. Oftentimes I’m tasked with fixing and stabilizing these breaks, which leads me to the other issue.
Weak Bones Unable to Stabilize – When I’m preforming an operation, especially when I’m inserting screws or other hardware, it’s imperative I attach the piece to a strong and stable bone. Without a good, strong bone it’s very difficult to obtain fixation. Vitamin D deficient patients will have noticeable diminished strength in their foot and they’ll heal slower.
I have many examples of patients who have been referred to me who failed to heal after a primary fusion operation who were able to heal without surgery with a simple addition of Vitamin D. When discussing surgery with a patient I always stress the importance of adding Vitamin D to their diet in the days and weeks leading up to an operation. As an orthopedic surgeon who routinely identifies vitamin D deficiency, I can tell you right now that a short period of sufficiency makes my life a lot easier.
The study in the Southern Medical Journal suggests adding routine Vitamin D screenings to reduce the number of deficient patients, but that will likely be too costly an option to seriously consider. Instead, older adults and anyone who suffers an injury should make it a point to consume the daily recommended amount of Vitamin D. It doesn’t matter whether your daily Vitamin D comes from a big glass of milk or a supplement. What matters is that you are building strong and healthy bones.
