Lower 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels, diabetes and age are associated with foot and ankle fracture treatment complications

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the nutritional status, 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD), albumin and risk factors associated with complications in patients with foot and ankle fragility fractures. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Prospective study, developed with patients who suffered fractures due to fragility of the foot and ankle (n = 108); the type of fractured bone, fracture mechanisms and classification were studied and also pseudoarthrosis, treatment, surgical dehiscence, anthropometry, 25OHD and albumin. The Chi-square or Fisher's exact test, Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used in the statistical analysis and the multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors associated with complications. RESULTS: The factors that, together, were associated with treatment complications were the level of 25OHD (p = 0.0055; OR = 0.868 [1,152]; 95% CI = 0.786; 0.959 [1.043;1.272]) and diabetes (p = 0.0034; OR = 30,181; 95% CI = 3.087; 295.036). The factors that, together, were associated with the presence of any complication, were age (p = 0.0139; OR = 1.058; 95% CI = 1.011; 1,106) and 25OHD level (p = 0.0198; OR = 0.917; 95% CI = 0.852; 0.986). There was a complication probability above 0.40 associated with lower 25OHD levels (values below 20 ng/mL) and older age (over 50 years). CONCLUSION: Lower or abnormal levels of 25OHD were associated with pseudoarthrosis, and age and 25OHD were both risk factors for treatment complications in patients with foot and ankle fractures.