Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 2025 (SCI-Expanded)
Background: There are many systemic or local factors that can disrupt wound healing process. The aim of the study is to evaluate the effect of serum vitamin D levels on the wound healing process after open carpal tunnel release surgery. Methods: This study is a single-center retrospective analysis of patients treated between December 2022 and June 2024. Patients who underwent OCTR surgery under wide-awake local anesthesia with no tourniquet were included. Patients with comorbidities and risk factors known to negatively affect the wound healing process were excluded. Preoperative 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were recorded. On the 14th postoperative day, patients were evaluated for wound healing status and categorized into two groups: "delayed wound healing" and "normal wound healing." Results: Forty-six women (83.6%) and nine men (16.4%) with a mean age of 51.7 years were included. Normal wound healing was observed in 34 patients (61.8%), whereas delayed wound healing was observed in 21 patients (38.2%). The mean 25-hydroxyvitamin D level was 19.66 ng/mL in the normal wound healing group, whereas it was 11.05 ng/mL in the delayed wound healing group (P = 0.001). Of the 12 patients with a 25(OH)D level ≥20 ng/mL, only one patient (8.3%) experienced delayed wound healing, whereas among the 43 patients with a level <20 ng/mL, 20 (46.5%) had delayed wound healing (P = 0.02). The Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire total scores at the postoperative 1st month were found to be superior in the normal wound healing group compared with the delayed wound healing group (2.04 ± 0.34 vs. 2.23 ± 0.33, respectively, P = 0.04). However, no significant difference was found in clinical scores at the 3rd postoperative month (1.62 ± 0.31 vs. 1.69 ± 0.35, P = 0.30). Conclusion: There is an association between vitamin D deficiency and delayed wound healing after OCTR surgery.