Effects of local alendronate administration on bone defect healing. Histomorphometric and radiological evaluation in a rabbit model.

PURPOSE

To performed a histomorphometric and radiological study to evaluate the effects of alendronate sodium administered locally in mandibular bone defects created in rabbits.

METHODS

Two circular defects 5 mm in diameter were created bilaterally in the mandibular corpus of 20 New Zealand rabbits (i.e., four defects per animal). Each defect received one of four treatments: no treatment (EC group), alendronate irrigation (AL group), autogenous bone grafting (AG group), or alendronate irrigation with autogenous bone grafting (AL+AG group). Histomorphometric and radiological assessments were conducted at 4 and 8 weeks after surgery.

RESULTS

Between-group comparisons of the new bone area, the value of the AL+AG group was significantly lower thanthe remaining three groups at 4 weeks postoperatively. In all groups, the new bone area was significantly larger at 8 weeks than at 4 weeks. The residual graft area at 4 and 8 weeks was significantly higher in the AL+AG group than in the AG group, although it was significantly smaller at 8 weeks than at 4 weeks in both these groups.

CONCLUSION

The use of alendronate sodium in conjunction with autogenous bone grafting improves the osteoconductive properties of the graft, enhances graft retention in the defect, and improves ossification.