The influence of high doses of vitamin C on functional recovery and postoperative pain in patients with trochanteric fracture after intramedullary nailing during a three-month follow-up: a full-scale study.

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the effects of high peri- and postoperative doses of vitamin C administration on severity of pain in postoperative period and functional outcome of the patients with trochanteric fracture treated with intramedullary nailing during a three-month follow-up.

Methods: A prospective, randomised, full-scale study included 74 patients who were randomly divided into vitamin C (intervention) and control groups. In the intervention group, patients received vitamin C perioperatively by intravenous route for 2 days, and oral vitamin C for 38 days postoperatively. Baseline characteristics, postoperative metamizole consumption, visual analogue scale (VAS) score, Harris hip score (HHS) value, and the prevalence of complications were evaluated in both groups.

Results: No significant differences were noted between the groups regarding age, gender, length of hospitalisation, and distribution in fracture type as well as in postoperative HHS values. Postoperative metamizole consumption was notably higher in the control group compared to the vitamin C group (p = 0.003). Postoperative VAS scores were higher in the control group than in the vitamin C group at all time follow-ups (p < 0.05). The group variable significantly contributed to VAS score, and age and gender variables significantly contributed to HHS value.

Conclusion: Significant reduction of subjective pain levels and lower analgesic consumption was found in patients who received vitamin C, suggesting that it should be considered as an adjuvant agent for analgesia in patients with hip fracture.