VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY LEADS TO STRESS FRACTURES IN 15-YEAR-OLD
09/2016
By Nozia Sayyed,
Pune Mirror
The severity and patient count of those suffering with vitamin D deficiency have tripled over last five years, orthopaedic surgeons from the city have observed. With 3-5 cases being reported every day, several of them are misdiagnosed and suggested joint replacement surgeries instead of osteomalacia — a condition which results out of severe vitamin D deficiency. Doctors have seen the condition occurring in young ones along with software professionals. Recently, a 15-year-old, reportedly suffering from osteomalacia, was suggested hip joint surgery due to multiple stress fractures.
About her condition, Dr Nitin Bhagali, past president of Pune Orthopaedic Society, and director founder of Bhagali Nursing Home said, "The vitamin D levels had dropped to two nanograms per ml (which should ideally be close to 40) in this 15-year-old. In other cases as well, the vitamin D level has been observed to be around 10 nanograms, which is cause of concern for other orthopaedic physicians. Most of the cases we are seeing are young patients and also software professionals."
Aliya's* mother, Tabassum Tamboli*, told Pune Mirror, "My child has been staying in a Madrassa since she was six-years-old, where she could not get enough sunlight and nutrition from food. We saw her condition deteriorating and disfigurement at a young age with severe pain which increased in the night. Doctors suggested hip joint surgery, after which we took her to an expert who gave us a sigh of relief."
Aliya's family was told that with a change in lifestyle and medication, her condition can be reversed.
Bhagali said, "The 15-year-old was asked to undergo a hip joint replacement surgery due to many stress fractures on hip joints, femur and thigh bones. We are trying to improve her condition through aggressive medical intervention and lifestyle changes. However, she may need a surgery if her condition does not improve."
Dr SM Hardikar, director of Hardikar Hospital, said that a teenaged patient had approached the hospital claiming she had been asked to undergo hip joint surgery. After going through her history, and ordering some tests, she was detected with osteomalacia and was immediately started on medication to avoid surgery.
"There have been cases where surgical intervention is suggested as the cause is not diagnosed. In osteomalacia, due to stress fractures and pain, the diagnosis is missed leading to subsequent comorbidities. Awareness about vitamin D deficiency in early childhood has become important and changes in lifestyle remain the only option to avoid this condition that imitates other diseases of joints and bones."
He added, "However, a child in her teens needing joint replacement surgery due to severity of osteomalacia was never heard of till today. But, sporadic cases are getting diagnosed these days."
Dr Ramesh Ranka, director, Ranka Hospital and senior orthopaedic surgeon, claimed that osteomalacia cases have been diagnosed over a few years.
"Not many know that this condition can be reversed. Often, due to delayed diagnosis, most of the times patients end up getting operated. Joint replacement is indicated when a patient radiologically shows gross joint degeneration and clinically if there is any deformity of the leg. Most of the cases come with severe pain which makes it unbearable, but with proper nutrition and medication there are chances of it being corrected," he said.
Almost all the experts claimed that these cases are observed within people who are confined to air-conditioned atmosphere. Dr Parag Sancheti, President of Asia Pacific Arthroplasty Society (APAS) and chairman of Sancheti Hospital, recommends exposure to sun for good 30-40 minutes to avoid the condition.
"Sun exposure between 9 am and 3 pm is good enough for the bones and can also give you enough Vitamin D," he said.
*Name changed to protetct identity
█ In osteomalacia, due to stress fractures and pain, the diagnosis is missed leading to subsequent comorbidities.
http://www.punemirror.in/pune/civic/Vitamin-D-deficiency-leads-to-stress-fractures-in-15-year-old/articleshow/54008303.cms
By Nozia Sayyed,
Pune Mirror
The severity and patient count of those suffering with vitamin D deficiency have tripled over last five years, orthopaedic surgeons from the city have observed. With 3-5 cases being reported every day, several of them are misdiagnosed and suggested joint replacement surgeries instead of osteomalacia — a condition which results out of severe vitamin D deficiency. Doctors have seen the condition occurring in young ones along with software professionals. Recently, a 15-year-old, reportedly suffering from osteomalacia, was suggested hip joint surgery due to multiple stress fractures.
About her condition, Dr Nitin Bhagali, past president of Pune Orthopaedic Society, and director founder of Bhagali Nursing Home said, "The vitamin D levels had dropped to two nanograms per ml (which should ideally be close to 40) in this 15-year-old. In other cases as well, the vitamin D level has been observed to be around 10 nanograms, which is cause of concern for other orthopaedic physicians. Most of the cases we are seeing are young patients and also software professionals."
Aliya's* mother, Tabassum Tamboli*, told Pune Mirror, "My child has been staying in a Madrassa since she was six-years-old, where she could not get enough sunlight and nutrition from food. We saw her condition deteriorating and disfigurement at a young age with severe pain which increased in the night. Doctors suggested hip joint surgery, after which we took her to an expert who gave us a sigh of relief."
Aliya's family was told that with a change in lifestyle and medication, her condition can be reversed.
Bhagali said, "The 15-year-old was asked to undergo a hip joint replacement surgery due to many stress fractures on hip joints, femur and thigh bones. We are trying to improve her condition through aggressive medical intervention and lifestyle changes. However, she may need a surgery if her condition does not improve."
Dr SM Hardikar, director of Hardikar Hospital, said that a teenaged patient had approached the hospital claiming she had been asked to undergo hip joint surgery. After going through her history, and ordering some tests, she was detected with osteomalacia and was immediately started on medication to avoid surgery.
"There have been cases where surgical intervention is suggested as the cause is not diagnosed. In osteomalacia, due to stress fractures and pain, the diagnosis is missed leading to subsequent comorbidities. Awareness about vitamin D deficiency in early childhood has become important and changes in lifestyle remain the only option to avoid this condition that imitates other diseases of joints and bones."
He added, "However, a child in her teens needing joint replacement surgery due to severity of osteomalacia was never heard of till today. But, sporadic cases are getting diagnosed these days."
Dr Ramesh Ranka, director, Ranka Hospital and senior orthopaedic surgeon, claimed that osteomalacia cases have been diagnosed over a few years.
"Not many know that this condition can be reversed. Often, due to delayed diagnosis, most of the times patients end up getting operated. Joint replacement is indicated when a patient radiologically shows gross joint degeneration and clinically if there is any deformity of the leg. Most of the cases come with severe pain which makes it unbearable, but with proper nutrition and medication there are chances of it being corrected," he said.
Almost all the experts claimed that these cases are observed within people who are confined to air-conditioned atmosphere. Dr Parag Sancheti, President of Asia Pacific Arthroplasty Society (APAS) and chairman of Sancheti Hospital, recommends exposure to sun for good 30-40 minutes to avoid the condition.
"Sun exposure between 9 am and 3 pm is good enough for the bones and can also give you enough Vitamin D," he said.
*Name changed to protetct identity
█ In osteomalacia, due to stress fractures and pain, the diagnosis is missed leading to subsequent comorbidities.
http://www.punemirror.in/pune/civic/Vitamin-D-deficiency-leads-to-stress-fractures-in-15-year-old/articleshow/54008303.cms
