Abstract: Osteocalcin is one of the biochemical markers of bone metabolism, produced by mature osteoblasts. It has been shown that serum osteocalcin is a marker of osteoblastic activity, and the levels reflect the rate of bone formation and bone turnover. Bone metabolism after spinal cord injury (SCI) initially reflects a disproportion between highly bone resorption and almost normal or lightly elevated bone formation, indicating an increase in bone turnover. Osteocalcin and other biochemical markers may be helpful to know the bone metabolism after SCI and to evaluate the effect of all kinds of methods in treating and preventing osteoporosis after SCI.

Key words: osteocalcin, spinal cord injury, osteoporosis, review