Effect of vitamin D in fracture healing in a child: case report

Arch Osteoporos. 2014:9:170. doi: 10.1007/s11657-013-0170-z. Epub 2014 Jan 23.

Abstract

In this report, we describe the effect of vitamin D and calcium supplementation on fracture healing in a young boy with a hypovitaminosis D who had a radius refracture. The radiographic evaluation of the callus formation shows a clear effect of vitamin D on fracture healing in absence of additional variables.

Introduction: Fracture healing restores the tissue to its original physical and mechanical properties and it involves a complex multistep process that involves response to injury, intramembranous bone formation, chondrogenesis, endochondral bone formation, and bone remodeling. All this process is influenced by a variety of systemic and local factors. It is generally assumed that vitamin D plays an intimate role in healing fractures; however, very little data exists on how it does.

Case report: In this report, the authors describe the effect of vitamin D and calcium supplementation on fracture healing in a young boy with a hypovitaminosis D who had a radius refracture.

Conclusions: Our case report suggests that the hypovitaminosis D is a possible cause of inadequate fracture healing and refracture in children and it shows a clear effect of vitamin D supplementation on callus formation in the absence of additional variables.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Calcium / administration & dosage
  • Child
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Fracture Healing / drug effects*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Radiography
  • Radius Fractures / diagnostic imaging
  • Radius Fractures / prevention & control*
  • Secondary Prevention
  • Vitamin D / administration & dosage*
  • Vitamin D / analogs & derivatives
  • Vitamin D / blood
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / diet therapy*
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / physiopathology
  • Vitamins / administration & dosage*

Substances

  • Vitamins
  • Vitamin D
  • 25-hydroxyvitamin D
  • Calcium