Study of serum factors potentially involved in the pathogenesis of heterotopic bone formation after severe brain injury.

Objective: To look for serum factors detectable early after head injury and predictive of heterotopic bone formation.

Patients And Methods: In this prospective study of a homogeneous population of 31 men with severe brain injury, blood samples were obtained 3 months after the accident, and levels of serum factors influenced by bone metabolism were compared between patients with and without heterotopic bone formation. As extensive fractures can influence serum factors, the patients without heterotopic bone formation were divided into two groups based on whether they had major fractures.