Alendronate did not inhibit instability-induced bone resorption. A study in rats

Alendronate is a bisphosphonate that can decrease osteoclastic activity. It has been suggested as treatment for periprosthetic osteolysis. We used 48 rats, of which 32 had a plate implant on one tibia, to study the effect of alendronate on bone resorption at an unstable implant-bone interface. The plate has a handle on top, which can be grasped through the skin and turned, to create a sliding motion of a titanium surface against the underlying bone. This is known to result in bone resorption, which was studied by histomorphometry. Osmotic minipumps were used to administer alendronate at 0.063 mg/kg/day or saline. The systemic effect of the treatment was assessed by ashing the proximal metaphyses of the tibia of the contralateral unoperated leg. The ash-weight was increased in the alendronate-treated group by 43% (p = 0.0001), corresponding to histological changes in the metaphyseal bone. There was no inhibition of the instability-induced bone resorption at the test surface by alendronate: bone was being resorbed and replaced by a tissue similar to a loosening membrane.