Studio di alcuni parametri del metabolismo minerale in pazienti con fratture dei lunghi segmenti scheletrici

The aim of this investigation was the study of plasma levels of calcium-regulating hormanes and bone turn-over indices in healing fractures. We observed 14 patients treated with emergency osteosynthesis after fractures (12 males and 2 females, mean age 32,42 +- 3,94 years). Patients with endocrinological and metabolic diseases were not included in the study, as well as patients treated with drugs affecting mineral and bone metabolism. The considered indices were: blood calcium, phosphate, magnesium and alkaline phosphatase (heat-inactivated bone isoenzyme), NH2- and COOH-terminal PTH, calcitonin, 25-OHD3, urinary Ca,P, Mg, and hydroxyproline. The tests were performed 2, 10, 30, 60, and 120 days after operation. We observed as increase in blood Ca but not over normal values and an increased bone turn-over as indicated by high values of alkaline phosphatase and urinary hydroxyproline, as expected. The increase of bone cellular metabolism seems to be substained by an increase in parathyroid hormone levels.