Radiological resolution of nutritional rickets with mega dose of vitamin D - “Stoss Therapy”: a hospital-based study

Abstract

Background: Nutritional rickets is one of the most common metabolic disease of bone. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the level of Vitamin-D in children with rickets and establish that rickets in India is due to Vitamin-D deficiency and to compare and analysed the preand post –treatment radiographic parameters in nutritional rickets being treated by Stoss therapy. Interventional study, done at Central Institute of Orthopaedics, Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India between October 2015 and May 2017. Material and Methods: A total of 44 patients in the age group of 6 months to 16 years with signs of active rickets participated in the study. All the participants received Stoss therapy (mega dose of vitamin D) and the response to treatment was observed and recorded at regular follow up with clinical, biochemical and radiological parameters. Thacher’s score was used for radiological evaluation. Results: After starting treatment, 4 subjects out of 44 had zero score at 3 weeks. whereas at 6 weeks, 3 month 10 subjects and 17 subjects had score zero respectively. At 6 month all subject had score zero. Conclusion: The Stoss therapy is very effective and safe regimen for the treatment of rickets. The 10 points Thacher’s scoring method for assessing the severity of rickets shows promise as a useful tool for researchers and clinicians.