[Effect of 1 alpha-OH-D3 on the bone metabolism after high tibial osteotomy]

The effect of 1-hydroxycholecalciferol (1 alpha-OH-D3) on bone metabolism during osteotomized bone healing was investigated. The study based on 19 female patients with gonarthrosis who underwent the high tibial osteotomy. In 10 selected randomly from these patients 1 alpha-OH-D3 (1.0 micrograms/day) was administered before and after the surgery. After operation the changes in bone density (by MD-method) and biochemical parameters were followed. In the non-treated group the serum level of [Ca] x [P] product temporarily decreased at 3 days after surgery. Average bone density at two months after the surgery was 8.8% lower than the preoperative value. In contrast, 1 alpha-OH-D3 treated group showed significantly less decrease of serum [Ca] x [P] product at the third day than the control group and no significant decrease of bone density at two months after the operation. From these results, it was concluded that the 1 alpha-OH-D3 suppresses the decrease of serum Ca and P level and systemic osteopenia after osteotomy and may have an beneficial effect on fracture healing.