Categories
Change Password!
Reset Password!
As a glucocorticoid substitute, vitamin C supports joint recovery and reduces opioid needs and nausea/vomiting after total hip arthroplasty without glycemic side effects.
In a prospective, randomized controlled trial, researchers have found that vitamin C may serve as an effective and safer alternative to glucocorticoids for tackling postoperative pain and inflammation in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA). Conducted at a single medical center, the study involved 107 Han Chinese patients (mean age 56.8 years, 43% male) undergoing THA for end-stage hip disease.
Volunteers were randomized into 3 groups: one receiving vitamin C, another receiving dexamethasone, and a control group receiving neither intervention. The key outcomes ascertained were pain intensity measured via the visual analog scale (VAS), morphine usage, and inflammatory and fibrinolytic markers in the blood. Secondary outcomes included functional recovery (Harris hip scores), postoperative swelling (thigh circumference), incidence of rescue analgesia use, nausea/vomiting, and safety indicators such as blood glucose levels.
Findings revealed clear benefits of both vitamin C and dexamethasone over standard care. On postoperative day 1, those in the vitamin C and dexamethasone groups reported markedly lower VAS pain scores and consumed less morphine when compared to the control group. Both groups also illustrated reduced C-reactive protein levels—indicating a lower inflammatory response—on days 1 and 2.
Postoperative outcomes favored the treatment groups: fewer patients required rescue analgesia on day 1, and less thigh swelling was observed, reflected by reduced circumference measurements. Joint function also improved, with noticeably higher Harris hip scores at both 2 and 12 weeks postoperatively. Additionally, both interventions were linked with a reduced incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting—common complications that affect recovery.
One key distinction was the safety profile. While dexamethasone led to higher postoperative blood glucose levels, vitamin C did not affect glucose levels, suggesting a potential advantage for those at risk of hyperglycemia or diabetes. The study supports the use of vitamin C as a viable substitute for glucocorticoids in the postoperative care of THA patients. By offering comparable analgesic and anti-inflammatory benefits—while avoiding side effects like elevated blood glucose—vitamin C may boost recovery and patient outcomes in orthopedic surgery.
Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery
Efficacy of Vitamin C as Glucocorticoid Substitute for Reducing Pain and Inflammation After Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Wenyu Jiang et al.
Comments (0)