Vitamin D deficiency in women with femoral neck fracture.

Calcium (Ca) metabolism, with particular reference to serum vitamin D metabolites, was investigated in 40 women with femoral neck fracture (mean age 77.1 +/- 8.6 yr). All the patients were ambulant before the fracture; eight were long-term geriatric in-patients. Serum total and ionised calcium and serum albumin levels were significantly lower, and serum parathormone (PTH) levels significantly higher in fracture patients than in controls. Both serum 25-OH-D and 1,25-(OH)2D were significantly lower in fracture patients than in controls. We concluded that vitamin D, serum PTH and calcium levels should be checked with greater frequency in patients at high risk for osteoporosis and osteomalacia before they reach the age of 70.