Can locally applied risedronate be an effective agent when combined with xenografts? An animal study.

Background: To examine the effects of local risedronate application with xenografts on healing of rabbit skull defects using histological, histomorphometric, immunohistochemical, and three-dimensional radiological methods.

Methods: Two critical-sized defects with a diameter of 10 mm were created in 16 rabbits and filled with xenogenic bone graft and xenogenic bone graft + 5 mg risedronate in the control I and risedronate (RIS) groups, respectively. Residual graft, new bone, soft tissue areas, and bone volume were evaluated in the 4- and 8-week study groups.

Effects of a locally administered risedronate/autogenous bone graft combination on bone healing in a critical-size rabbit defect model.

Background: Risedronate is a bisphosphonate with poor oral absorption. An extremely hydrophilic molecule that has a high affinity for bone, risedronate also inhibits the farnesyl diphosphate synthase enzyme, inhibiting osteoclastic activity and reducing bone turnover and resorption. Autogenous bone grafts contain osteogenic cells and osteoinductive factors that are essential for bone regeneration and are therefore considered the gold standard.