Purpose: It is unknown whether zoledronic acid (ZA) interferes with initial bone healing at implant sites. The goal of this study was to examine the effects of systemic zoledronic acid administration on osseointegration of hydroxyapatite (HA)-coated and resorbable blast material surface (RBM) implants in rabbit models.
Materials and methods: Twenty-eight male New Zealand rabbits (aged 6 to 12 months) were used in this study. Rabbits were randomly assigned to four groups. In group A, HA-coated implants were placed in the right tibia of seven rabbits. In group B, RBM-surface implants were placed in the right tibia of seven rabbits. In group C, HA-coated implants were placed in seven rabbits with intravenous (IV) administration of ZA. Finally, in group D, RBM-surface implants were placed in seven rabbits with IV administration of ZA. For groups C and D, IV zoledronic acid (0.1 mg/kg) was performed monthly during the entire osseointegration period. All of the rabbits were sacrificed 12 weeks after the implantation, and tibial specimens were harvested. Histomorphometric bone-to-implant contact (BIC) analysis and the data were statistically analyzed.
Results: The highest BIC percentage was detected in group D, with a mean value of 56.73%±1.85%, as compared with 45.80%±3.77% in group C, 35.11%±0.76% in group B, and 31.14%±1.04% in group A.
Conclusions: Histomorphometric analyses showed significant improvement in the osseointegration of implants in the RBM-surface ZA group compared with the HA-coated ZA group. The results of this study suggest that systemic ZA administration may improve osseointegration of titanium implants in bone.