Comparative Analysis of Radiological and Biochemical Markers of Bone Healing in Patients with Concomitant Traumatic...

This study investigates the phenomenon of accelerated bone repair in patients with TBI-related trauma by comparing radiological and biochemical markers against isolated fracture cases.

A cohort of 108 patients with femoral or tibial fractures was analyzed, divided into Group I (isolated fractures, n=82) and Group II (fractures with mild-to-moderate traumatic brain injury, n=26). Evaluation utilized the Radiographic Union Scale for Tibial Fractures (RUST) alongside serum levels of calcium and total protein.

TBI patients exhibited significantly higher RUST scores (mean increase of 1.3 points, p < 0.001) compared to isolated trauma. The effect was most pronounced in young adults (18-44 years), with RUST scores 31.4% higher. This acceleration diminished with age, as shown by a negative correlation between age and RUST scores (r = -0.53, p = 0.005) Higher RUST scores in Group II corresponded to lower postoperative serum calcium levels despite identical baseline values (p=0.64) Initial total protein was 15% higher in TBI, likely reflecting early systemic immune activation and cytokine production.

1. Traumatic brain injury significantly accelerates radiological bone repair, particularly in younger cohorts. 2. These findings suggest that systemic metabolic and immune shifts following TBI drive enhanced osteogenesis.