A new study conducted by orthopaedic surgeons at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis shows that several patients who undergo spinal surgery have reduced levels of Vitamin D, which may prevent them from recovering normally.
The study observed 313 patients who were undergoing spinal fusion surgery, and the results indicated that over 50% of them had very low levels of vitamin D, with 25% of them being severely deficient. Jacob M. Buchowski, MD, who led the study, said that the findings meant that spinal surgery candidates should henceforth be screened for vitamin D so that those with lower levels can up their vitamin D reserves a few weeks before the surgery so as to aid faster recovery.
The findings were reported at the 26th Annual Meeting of the North American Spine Society, and the study was named one of the best papers at the meeting.
Image: Shutterstock