Previously　reported　fracture　rates　in　patients　with　spinal　cord　injury　range　from　1%　to　20%.　However,　the　exact　role　of　spinal　cord　injury　in　bone　metabolism　has　not　yet　been　clarified.　In　order　to　investigate　the　effects　of　serum　leptin　and　bone　mineral　density　on　the　healing　of　long　bone　fractures　in　men　with　spinal　cord　injury,　15　male　SCI　patients　and　15　matched　controls　were　involved　in　our　study.　The　outcome　indicated　that　at　4　and　8　weeks　after　bone　fracture,　callus　production　in　patients　with　spinal　cord　injury　was　lower　than　that　in　controls.　Besides,　bone　mineral　density　was　significantly　reduced　at　2,　4　and　8　weeks.　In　addition,　it　was　found　that　at　each　time　point,　patients　with　spinal　cord　injury　had　significantly　higher　serum　leptin　levels　than　controls　and　no　association　was　found　between　serum　leptin　level　and　bone　mineral　density　of　lumbar　vertebrae.　Moreover,　bone　mineral　density　was　positively　correlated　with　bone　formation　in　both　of　the　groups.　These　findings　suggest　that　in　early　phases　i.e.　week　4　and　8,　fracture　healing　was　impaired　in　patients　with　spinal　cord　injury　and　that　various　factors　participated　in　the　complicated　healing　process,　such　as　hormonal　and　mechanical　factors.