Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in children presenting with supracondylar fractures of humerus

Abstract

The purpose of the current analysis is to evaluate the predominance of vitamin D inadequacy in children with supracondylar fracture of the humerus. This is a cross-sectional study conducted at Dr Ruth K. M. Pfau Civil, Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan, from December 2019 to July 2020. Patients aged 18months-18years presenting with supracondylar fractures were included in the study. Patients were divided into four groups based on their age as toddlers (18months to 3years), pre-school age (3-5years), school-age (6 to 11years) and adolescents (11-18years). A total of 227 children presented with upper limb fractures of which 72 (31.7%) were supracondylar. The mean vitamin D level was found to be 32.5±9.1ng/mL. Of the study subjects, low vitamin D levels were found in 34.7% (n=25), adequate in 59.7% (n=43) and ideal in 5.5% (n=4) of patients. The mean vitamin D levels for toddlers were 33.5ng/mL, for preschool children was 27.66ng/mL, for school-age children was 30.4ng/mL and for adolescents was 37ng/mL. Vitamin D deficiency is not only restricted to Pakistan but also other parts of the world, although the reasons may vary in each of those regions. However, vitamin D supplementation in all parts of the globe can prevent a significant number of fractures. This prevalence study showed vitamin D deficiency in 35% of children with supracondylar fractures, with the lowest mean values in the preschool age group.