title: Systemic inflammation and fracture healing.
abstract: Apart from their pivotal role in the host defense against pathogens, leukocytes are also essential for bone repair, as fracture healing is initiated and directed by a physiological inflammatory response. Leukocytes infiltrate the fracture hematoma and produce several growth and differentiation factors that regulate essential downstream processes of fracture healing. Systemic inflammation alters the numbers and properties of circulating leukocytes, and we hypothesize that these changes are maintained in tissue leukocytes and will lead to impairment of fracture healing after major trauma. The underlying mechanisms will be discussed in this review.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Okan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bastian
authors.forename: Janesh
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pillay
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alblas
authors.forename: Luke
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Leenen
authors.forename: Leo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Koenderman
authors.forename: Taco
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Blokhuis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000473:pathology*; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism*