Could Trace Elements be Linked to Fracture Healing Acceleration in Traumatic Brain Injury-related Skeletal Polytrauma?

Traumatic brain injury (TBI)-related polytrauma is associated with accelerated fracture healing, yet the systemic redistribution of trace elements during this process remains poorly understood. Materials and methods. 90 female rats were divided into two groups: TBI-accompanied femur fracture and isolated femur fracture (IF). Trace element concentrations (Cu, Zn, Cd, Mg, Ca) were measured in whole blood and bone at 7, 14, and 21 days using atomic absorption spectroscopy. Femur fracture was modeled by blunt guillotine injury, while for TBI modified control cortical impact model was used. Results. On day 14, a metabolic peak was observed in the polytrauma group, with bone calcium level increasing 1.4 times (p < 0.001) and bone zinc increasing by 55% (p < 0.001). By day 21, blood cadmium levels in the polytrauma group rose significantly (p < 0.001), while bone concentrations of other trace minerals decreased. The 14-day mark represents a critical metabolic window for accelerated mineralization in TBI-related polytrauma. While these results are experimental, they suggest that the first two weeks post-trauma are vital for optimizing the mineral environment. Future research should integrate micro-CT and histological analysis to understand if metabolic peaks correlate with callus structure quality and investigate the potential diagnostic or therapeutic role of trace elements.