Vitamin D and foot and ankle trauma: An individual or societal problem.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D deficiency is a worldwide health concern. Hypovitaminosis D may adversely affect recovery from bone injury. The authors aimed to perform an audit of the Vitamin D status of patients in three centres in the United Kingdom presenting with foot and ankle osseous damage. METHODS: Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin-D (vitamin D) levels were obtained in patients presenting with imaging confirmed foot and ankle osseous trauma. Variables including age, gender, ethnicity, location, season, month, anatomical location and type of bone injury were recorded. RESULTS: 308 patients were included from three different centres. 66.6% were female. The average age was 47.7 (range; 10-85). The mean hydroxyvitamin-D levels were 52.0 nmol/L (SD 28.5). 18.8% were grossly deficient, 23.7% deficient, 34.7% insufficient and 22.7% within normal range. 351 separate bone injuries were identified of which 104 were categorised as stress reactions, 134 as stress fractures, 105 as fractures and 8 non-unions. Age, gender, anatomical location and fracture type did not statistically affect vitamin D levels. Ethnicity did affect Vitamin D levels: non-Caucasians mean levels were 32.4 nmols/L compared to Caucasian levels of 53.2 nmol/L (p=0.0026). CONCLUSION: Only 18.8% of our trauma patients had a normal Vitamin D level and 22.7% were grossly deficient. Patient age, gender, anatomical location and injury type did not statistically affect vitamin D levels. No difference between trauma and elective patients were found. Hypovitaminosis D is a problem of society in general rather than specific to certain foot and ankle injury patterns or particular patient groups sustaining trauma. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2b.

Can we use biomarkers of coagulation to predict which patients with foot and ankle injury will develop deep vein thrombosis?

BACKGROUND: Our aim was to determine whether plasma levels of Tissue Factor (TF), Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule 1 (VCAM-1), Interleukin 6 (IL-6) or D-dimer after foot and ankle injury could predict which patients would develop deep vein thrombosis (DVT). METHODS: Patients aged 18-60 years with acute foot and ankle injury had venous blood sample to measure TF, VCAM-1, IL-6 and D-dimer within 3 days of injury. Patients had bilateral lower limb venous ultrasound to assess for DVT on discharge from clinic. RESULTS: 21 of 77 patients were found to have DVT (27%). There was no statistically significant association between levels of TF, VCAM-1, IL-6 or D-dimer and subsequent development of DVT. CONCLUSION: Tissue Factor (TF), Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 (VCAM-1), Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and D-dimer levels were not associated with development deep vein thrombosis in patients with acute foot and ankle injury.

C-reactive protein levels for early detection of postoperative infection after fracture surgery in 787 patients.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: For early detection of postoperative infections, the level of C-reactive protein (CRP) may be useful. We analyzed baseline and time-dependent reference values for the postoperative use of CRP as an indicator of infection. METHODS: We studied the kinetics of CRP levels after fracture surgery in 1,418 patients. In 787 cases the operative fracture treatment was uneventful; in 17 of the other cases a deep wound infection occurred. RESULTS: In the uneventful cases, a similar evolution in CRP concentrations was found: the peak level, which occurred on the second postoperative day, depended on the region (136 mg/L in femoral fractures and 45 mg/L in ankle fractures) and reflected the extent of surgical trauma. For deep wound infection, a cutoff level of 96 mg/L (sensitivity 92%, specificity 93%) after the fourth day of surgery was recorded. INTERPRETATION: CRP kinetics permit establishment of a time-dependent set of reference values of CRP after operative fracture treatment. Deviations of this course--especially CRP concentrations above 96 mg/L after the fourth day--may aid in early detection of surgical complications.

Changes in biochemical markers after lower limb fractures.

BACKGROUND: The bone remodeling sequence after bone fracture changes the concentrations of biochemical bone markers, but the relationships of fracture size and of healing time to changes in biomarkers are unclear. The present pilot study was undertaken to determine the changes found in serum bone markers after plate osteosynthesis of closed distal tibial and malleolar fractures during a study period of 24 weeks. METHODS: We measured tatrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRACP 5b), collagen type I C-terminal telopeptide (ICTP), bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (bone ALP), osteocalcin (OC), procollagen type I C-terminal propeptide (PICP), procollagen type III N-terminal propeptide (PIIINP), and human cartilage glycoprotein 39 (YKL-40) in 20 patients with lower limb fractures (10 malleolar, 10 tibia). A physical examination and radiographs were completed to assess evidence of union. RESULTS: All malleolar fractures healed within 6 weeks, whereas 2 tibial fractures did not show complete bone healing after 24 weeks. Changes were comparable but more pronounced in the tibia group, and marker concentrations remained increased at the end of study (bone ALP, 86 vs 74 U/L; OC, 14.9 vs 7.7 microg/L; ICTP: 5.6 vs 3.3 microg/L at day 84 after osteosynthesis, P <0.05 in tibia; 80 vs 70 U/L, 8 vs 5.2 microg/L, and 3.5 vs 3.2 microg/L, respectively, in the malleolar fracture group). CONCLUSIONS: In normal bone healing, changes in bone turnover markers were primarily dependent on the fracture size. Delayed tibia fracture healing may involve a disturbance in bone remodeling.

Transcutaneous oxygen measurements under hyperbaric oxygen conditions as a predictor for healing of problem wounds.

Controversy exists as to what transcutaneous oxygen (P(tc)O2) levels are required for wound healing and what role hyperbaric oxygen has for this. Current information suggests that 30 to 40 mmHg juxta-wound oxygen tensions in room air are required. We recorded P(tc)O2 measurements in room air and with hyperbaric oxygen in 190 patients with foot wounds; then looked retrospectively and prospectively whether there was any effect on healing. Transcutaneous oxygen measurements under hyperbaric oxygen conditions defined a responder group (P(tc)O2 > 200 mmHg) with a sensitivity of 0.80 and a positive predictive value of 0.88 for healing, regardless of room air measurements when hyperbaric oxygen was used as an adjunct to wound management. This information helps to objectify the indications for hyperbaric oxygen and predict healing especially in those patients with problem wounds of the foot and ankle.

Translocation of endotoxin and acute-phase proteins in malleolar fractures.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Translocation of endotoxins was demonstrated for multiple injury but not for minor trauma such as isolated malleolar fractures. Major trauma leads to substantial changes in the plasma concentration of acute-phase proteins. However, isolated malleolar fractures are minor trauma. The objective of this study was to elucidate the kinetics of endotoxemia and the ability of plasma to inactivate endotoxin of patients operated on malleolar fractures and to demonstrate the early time course of the acute-phase proteins C-reactive protein, transferrin, alpha1-acid glycoprotein, haptoglobin, and interleukin-6 and to correlate them with the amount of endotoxemia. METHODS: Thirty patients with malleolar fractures were operated on within 6 hours after injury. Blood was collected immediately after admission and regularly up to 96 hours after surgery. RESULTS: Preoperative endotoxin plasma levels were increased compared with that of healthy individuals (0.05 +/- 0.017 vs. 0.02 EU/mL). Endotoxemia peaked 0.5 hours after the surgical procedure at 0.096 +/- 0.03 (p < 0.05 vs. healthy) and decreased to almost normal values after 24 hours. The ability of the plasma to inactivate endotoxin was significantly reduced after the surgical procedure compared with normal subjects (recovery, 0.17 +/- 0.028 EU/mL vs. 0.04 +/- 0.01 EU/mL; p < 0.05). Plasma interleukin-6 peaked 0.5 hours postoperatively (114 +/- 11 pg/mL, p < 0.05 vs. healthy), decreasing thereafter. C-Reactive protein peaked at 45 +/- 5 mg/mL (p < 0.05) 48 hours after injury. Transferrin decreased significantly postoperatively (2.41 +/- 0.12 mg/mL vs. pre-OP 2.65 +/- 0.1 mg/mL) and remained on this level for 96 hours. Both, alpha1-acid glycoprotein and haptoglobin increased postoperatively until day 4 (0.78 +/- 0.06 mg/mL to 1.15 +/- 0.08 mg/mL and 1.51 +/- 0.12 mg/mL to 3.24 +/- 0.22 mg/mL). There was no correlation between endotoxemia and the concentrations of the acute-phase proteins and interleukin-6. CONCLUSION: Surgery for malleolar fractures is associated with temporary endotoxemia and temporary reduced endotoxin inactivation capacity of the plasma. The injury and the surgical procedure leads to substantial changes in the plasma concentrations of acute-phase proteins. The relation between endotoxemia and acute-phase response is not dose dependent.