Bisphosphonates Can Maintain Periprosthetic Bone Mass Density after Total Hip Replacement, with Controversy in Region of Interest 5.

BACKGROUND

Total hip replacement (THR) is the standard surgical treatment of hip diseases. Periprosthetic bone mass density (BMD) loss may be a cause for revision surgery. Bisphosphonates (BPs) are now the principal class medications for osteoporosis.

OBJECTIVE

To demonstrate the effect of BPs on treating periprosthetic osteoporosis after THR via a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

METHODS

A comprehensive search of PubMed, EMBASE, the Web of Science and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials was performed for RCTs on the effect of BPs on treating periprosthetic osteoporosis after THR and clinical outcomes relative to controls. The primary outcome measures were the change in BMD in each region of interest (ROI), the change in serum bone turnover marker levels, the change in functional parameters and the risk of adverse effects (AEs). The final search was performed in March, 2020.

RESULTS

Nine RCTs were included. A total of 359 patients met the inclusion criteria. BPs can clearly maintain periprosthetic BMD in ROIs at 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7 at 6, 12 and 24 months. In addition, BPs can clearly decrease serum procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide (P1NP) levels at 12 months. There was no significant difference in the risk of AEs between the BP and control groups; however, BPs can cause more patients to decline participation.

CONCLUSION

BPs can effectively maintain overall periprosthetic BMD, but BMD in ROI 5 remains controversial. In addition, the safety of BPs is relatively high, but the compliance may be relatively low.