From brain to bone: evidence for the release of osteogenic humoral factors after traumatic brain injury.
OBJECTIVE
The aetiology of the increased osteogenesis associated with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains incompletely understood. The purpose of this article is to review the available evidence regarding the release of osteogenic humoral factors after TBI.


METHODS
This study is presented in the form of a literature review.


METHODS
To obtain suitable references, Pubmed was searched using keywords 'heterotopic ossification', 'brain', 'trauma', 'injury', 'aetiology'.


RESULTS
Evidence from both clinical and laboratory investigations points to centrally released osteogenic factor(s) that enter the systemic circulation following TBI.


CONCLUSIONS
Further investigation into the identification of these putative osteogenic factor(s), using human tissues and new techniques, is indicated to better understand this phenomenon.
Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Western Australia. andrewtoffoli@hotmail.com
Andrew M
AM
Toffoli
Oliver P
OP
Gautschi
Sonke P
SP
Frey
Luis
L
Filgueira
Rene
R
Zellweger
D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000293:injuries*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009999:Ossification, Heterotopic / Q000209:etiology*; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000502:physiology; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats
D015415:Biomarkers; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase