title: Plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin d levels in operative patella fractures.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patella fractures have not traditionally been considered "fragility" fractures.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to examine the demographic patterns (age and gender distribution) and plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels of a cohort of patients with operative patella fractures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical records were reviewed on all consecutive patients presenting to our institution with operative patella fractures from 2003 to 2009. Seventy-eight operative patella fractures (25 male, 53 female) were identified with a mean age of 58 years (range, 22-89 years).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of patients with patella fractures in this series were females over the age of 50 years who sustained low-energy falls from a standing height or less. Twenty-four patients (80%) had vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency at the time of injury. For 68 patients (87%), the patella fracture represented their first fracture. Patients with known osteoporosis risk factors did not have higher rates of vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The age and gender distribution, as well as the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency, of operative patella fractures, suggest that these patients likely have abnormal vitamin D levels and should undergo a metabolic bone work-up.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Hospital for Special Surgery, 535 East 70th Street, New York, NY 10021 USA ; Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY 10065 USA ; Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115 USA.
authors.forename: Keith R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Reinhardt
authors.affiliation: Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY 10065 USA ; New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY 10065 USA.
authors.forename: Lionel E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Lazaro
authors.affiliation: Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY 10065 USA ; New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY 10065 USA.
authors.forename: Ben-Paul
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Umunna
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Hospital for Special Surgery, 535 East 70th Street, New York, NY 10021 USA ; Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY 10065 USA.
authors.forename: Michael B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Cross
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Hospital for Special Surgery, 535 East 70th Street, New York, NY 10021 USA ; Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY 10065 USA.
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Helfet
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Hospital for Special Surgery, 535 East 70th Street, New York, NY 10021 USA ; Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY 10065 USA.
authors.forename: Joseph M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lane
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Hospital for Special Surgery, 535 East 70th Street, New York, NY 10021 USA ; Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY 10065 USA ; New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY 10065 USA.
authors.forename: Dean G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Lorich
keywords: fragility fracture; metabolic bone disease; osteoporosis; patella fracture; vitamin D