In vivo analysis of the effect of the traumatic brain injury on the fracture healing of the long bones: experimental study

• Applicant: Privatdozent Serafeim Tsitsilonis, Ph.D.
• Subject Area: Biomaterials
• Term: from 2012 to 2014
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 221531216

It is empirically known that patients with traumatic brain injury and concomitant fractures of the long bones show an accelerated fracture healing. The main goal of the presented project is the comprehension of the biological alterations that take place at the level of the bone after traumatic brain injury and concomitant fractures of the long bones and result in an accelerated fracture healing. Under this scope the implementation of a traumatic brain injury and fracture of the femur in animal models aims the comprehension of the reaction of the bone towards the hyperglycemia and insulin resistance commonly seen in trauma patients with traumatic brain injury. More specifically, the elucidation of the role of the hormones osteocalcin, leptin and insulin on the function of the osteoblasts and the osteoclasts and consecutively on fracture healing is the primary end point of this study. This study should help to find new ways in the stimulation of fracture healing, especially in problematic situations such as delayed unions and non-unions. Moreover the comprehension of the physiological mechanisms involved in this phenomenon could also play a role in achieving new insight in the pathophysiology of osteoporosis and its treatment.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants