Temporal Profile of Plasma Asprosin Levels After Traumatic Diaphyseal Fractures of the Femur And Tibia: A Prospective Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Asprosin is a fasting-induced adipokine involved in metabolic and inflammatory regulation. Its behavior following acute orthopedic trauma is not well understood. Assessing its temporal changes after long-bone fractures may help clarify early physiological responses to injury. PURPOSE: The purpose of our study is to determine the serum asprosin levels after femoral and tibial diaphyseal fractures, and to compare these levels with those of healthy subjects. METHODS: This prospective randomized clinical study included a total of 89 participants, comprising 41 patients with isolated femoral (n = 19) or tibial (n = 24) shaft fractures and 48 healthy controls. Fasting serum asprosin levels were measured at day 1, day 3, day 7, 1 month, and 3 months post-injury. Controls provided two fasting samples 2 weeks apart, and the mean values were analyzed. Serum asprosin concentrations were measured using a sandwich-type ELISA (detection range 1.88-120 ng/mL). Statistical analysis used independent samples t test and Chi-square tests, with significance set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: Asprosin levels were significantly higher in the fracture group than in controls at day 1 (40.26 vs. 20.68 ng/mL, p < 0.001) and peaked on day 3 (68.21 ng/mL, p < 0.001). Levels declined by day 7 and 1 month but remained elevated (p < 0.001). At 3 months, asprosin values approximated control levels (p = 0.294). Femoral and tibial fractures showed similar trends, except for a small difference at the 3-month follow-up (p = 0.045). CONCLUSION: Asprosin levels rise sharply after long-bone fractures, peak early, and gradually return to baseline by 3 months, suggesting potential value as a biomarker of early fracture response. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s43465-026-01736-y.