RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 A Review of Vitamin D in Spinal Surgery: Deficiency Screening, Treatment, and Outcomes
JF International Journal of Spine Surgery
JO Int J Spine Surg
FD International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery
SP 7059
DO 10.14444/7059
A1 Mayo, Benjamin C.
A1 Massel, Dustin H.
A1 Yacob, Alem
A1 Narain, Ankur S.
A1 Hijji, Fady Y.
A1 Jenkins, Nathaniel W.
A1 Parrish, James M.
A1 Modi, Krishna D.
A1 Long, William W.
A1 Hrynewycz, Nadia M.
A1 Brundage, Thomas S.
A1 Singh, Kern
YR 2020
UL https://www.ijssurgery.com/content/early/2020/06/17/7059.abstract
AB In this review, we discuss the demonstrated value of vitamin D in bone maintenance, fracture resistance, spinal health, and spine surgery outcomes. Despite this, the effect of vitamin D levels in spine surgery has not been well described. Through this review of literature, several conclusions were drawn. First, despite the fact that a high number of spine surgery patients are vitamin D deficient, screening is not commonly performed. Second, vitamin D levels will not be achieved in a majority of these patients without supplementation. Last, inadequate vitamin D levels may increase the risk of pseudarthrosis. Given these findings, we suggest that many patients undergoing spinal surgery could be treated with vitamin D supplementation prior to surgery without the need for confirmatory testing for vitamin D deficiency. This is a more cost-effective method than screening all patients. However, future randomized trials and cost-effectiveness analyses are needed to determine the ultimate effects of vitamin D supplementation on clinical morbidity and surgical outcomes.