Vitamin C depletion and pressure sores in elderly patients with femoral neck fracture.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the contribution of specific nutritional deficiencies (as indicated by zinc; vitamin A, C, and E; albumin; and haemoglobin concentrations) to the risk of pressure sores.

DESIGN

Observational cohort study.

SETTING

St James's University Hospital, Leeds.

SUBJECTS: 21 elderly patients presenting consecutively to the orthopaedic unit with femoral neck fracture.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Full thickness epidermal break over a pressure bearing surface.

RESULTS

10 patients (48%) developed a pressure sore during their hospital stay. Indices of zinc status and concentrations of albumin, haemoglobin, and vitamins A and E were similar in patients who developed a pressure sore and those who did not. Mean leucocyte vitamin C concentration, however, was 6.3 (SD 2.2) micrograms/10(8) cells in patients who developed a pressure sore as compared with 12.8 (4.6) micrograms/10(8) cells in patients who did not.

CONCLUSIONS

Low concentrations of leucocyte vitamin C appear to be associated with subsequent development of pressure sores in elderly patients with femoral neck fractures.