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A Preclinical Controlled Cortical Impact Model for Traumatic Hemorrhage Contusion and Neuroinflammation
Published on: June 10, 2020
Disturbance of pro-inflammatory cytokines in post-traumatic psychopathology
A G Sutherland1, D A Alexander, J D Hutchison
1Department of Orthopaedics, University of Aberdeen Medical School, Polwarth Building, Foresterhill, AB9 2ZD, Scotland, Aberdeen, UK. ort025@abdn.ac.uk
Background:
Post-traumatic psychopathology (PTP) is important to the orthopaedic surgeon as it may complicate the recovery from musculoskeletal injury. PTP is associated with a disturbance of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, and may lead to impaired healing. We have investigated the relationship between PTP and pro-inflammatory markers of the metabolic response to trauma.
Materials And Methods:
A prospective cohort study of 82 patients with musculoskeletal injuries, correlating development of psychopathology (measured by general health questionnaire) and pro-inflammatory markers (CRP, IL-6, sIL-6r, TNF-alpha) two and six months after their injury.
Results:
Psychological disturbance was found in 39% of patients at two months and 18% at six months. This disturbance was associated with significantly increased levels of IL-6 at two months and of sIL-6r and TNF-alpha at six months. CRP levels were not related to the development of PTP.
Conclusions:
The relationship between PTP and disturbances of pro-inflammatory markers needs further exploration, but may explain in part the impaired functional recovery when musculoskeletal trauma is complicated by psychological disturbance.
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