Enhanced gap filling and osteoconduction associated with alendronate-calcium phosphate-coated porous tantalum.
BACKGROUND
Porous tantalum has been shown to be effective in achieving bone ingrowth. However, in some circumstances, bone quality or quantity may be insufficient to allow adequate bone ingrowth. We hypothesized that local delivery of alendronate from porous tantalum would enhance the ability of the tantalum to achieve bone ingrowth when there is a gap between the implant and bone. We evaluated the effect of alendronate-coated porous tantalum on new bone formation in an animal model incorporating a gap between the implant and bone.


METHODS
A cylindrical porous tantalum implant was implanted in the distal part of each femur in eighteen rabbits (a total of thirty-six implants) and left in situ for four weeks. Three types of porous tantalum implants were inserted: those with no coating (the control group), those with microporous calcium phosphate coating, and those coated with microporous calcium phosphate and alendronate. Subcutaneous fluorescent labeling was used to track new bone formation. Bone formation was analyzed with backscattered electron microscopy and fluorescent microscopy of undecalcified samples.


RESULTS
The relative increases in the mean volume of gap filling, bone ingrowth, and total bone formation in the group treated with the porous tantalum implants coated with calcium phosphate and alendronate were 143% (p < 0.001), 259% (p < 0.001), and 193% (p < 0.001), respectively, compared with the values in the control group treated with the uncoated porous tantalum implants. The percentage of the length of the implant that was in contact with new bone in the group treated with the calcium phosphate and alendronate coating was increased by an average of 804% compared with the percentage in the group treated with the uncoated implants.


CONCLUSIONS
The study demonstrated significantly enhanced filling of the bone-implant gap and bone ingrowth in association with the porous tantalum implants coated with calcium phosphate and alendronate.
Garbuz
Donald S
DS
Division of Adult Lower Limb Reconstruction and Oncology, Department of Orthopaedics, University of British Columbia, Room 3114, 910 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4E3, Canada. garbuz@shaw.ca
Hu
Youxin
Y
Kim
Winston Y
WY
Duan
Ke
K
Masri
Bassam A
BA
Oxland
Thomas R
TR
Burt
Helen
H
Wang
Rizhi
R
Duncan
Clive P
CP
D019386:Alendronate / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001861:Bone Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects; D002130:Calcium Phosphates / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D016348:Osseointegration / Q000187:drug effects; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D013635:Tantalum
D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D002130:Calcium Phosphates; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D013635:Tantalum; C020243:calcium phosphate; D019386:Alendronate