The Role of Vitamin D Supplementation in orthopedic trauma patients

This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effects of vitamin D supplementation on disease activity in trauma patients with baseline vitamin D deficiency at Hayatabad Medical Complex's Orthopedic Ward from July 2024 to March 2025. A total of 150 patients with bike trauma, firearm trauma, or history of falls were equally divided into supplemented (n=75) and control (n=75) groups. The supplemented group received 50,000 IU vitamin D3 weekly for 8 weeks followed by 2000 IU/day maintenance, while controls received standard care. Results demonstrated significantly greater reductions in disease activity scores in supplemented patients across all trauma types: bike trauma (2.4 vs 1.0, p=0.04), firearm trauma (1.6 vs 0.7, p=0.03), and history of falls (1.1 vs 0.5, p=0.05). The supplemented group also showed more stable outcomes (SD=0.7) compared to controls (SD=0.9) and achieved substantial increases in vitamin D levels (14 to 46 ng/mL) versus minimal change in controls (16 to 17 ng/mL). These findings indicate that vitamin D supplementation significantly improves disease activity and reduces clinical variability in trauma patients, supporting its potential role in orthopedic rehabilitation protocols for vitamin D-deficient individuals.