The Importance of Calcium and Vitamin D After Bone and Joint Surgeries
Peace be upon you. Some orthopedic surgeons, when performing surgery on a patient, focus on prescribing antibiotics to prevent infection and anticoagulants to prevent clots, but many of them may overlook prescribing calcium and vitamin D.
Factors That Increase the Risk of Osteoporosis After Surgery
There are several reasons why the patient is in dire need of these supplements; firstly, the patient usually does not use their leg for a period after the surgery, which leads to what is known as "disuse osteoporosis."
Secondly, the patient may have taken cortisone before the surgery to reduce joint inflammation, which increases the likelihood of osteoporosis. Thirdly, age and physiological factors play a significant role, especially if the patient is elderly or the patient is a postmenopausal woman, where the likelihood of bone weakness increases in them.
Medical Recommendations to Avoid Complications
Neglecting this aspect leads to slow bone healing, and if the patient falls and suffers a fracture, the medical situation will become much more complicated.
Therefore, the doctor should check the levels of calcium and vitamin D before the surgery. Based on the results, the patient's age, the expected duration of immobility, and their medication history, appropriate doses of calcium and vitamin D should be prescribed to ensure a healthy and strong recovery.