Bisphosphonate remains highly localized after elution from porous implants.

Background: Local elution of zoledronic acid from a porous implant reportedly enhances periimplant bone formation and implant fixation. However, there is no information in the literature on the extent to which eluted bisphosphonate remains localized around the implant or becomes systemically distributed.

Questions/purposes: We ascertained to what extent eluted zoledronic acid remains local and whether there is systemic exposure after local elution from porous implants.

Methods: A hydroxyapatite-coated porous tantalum implant dosed with 100 μg (14)C-labeled zoledronic acid was implanted into the left femoral intramedullary canal of six dogs. Bone samples near to and distant from the implant were harvested from three dogs at 6 weeks and three dogs at 52 weeks. The concentration of radiolabeled bisphosphonate in each sample was quantified using liquid scintillation spectrophotometry and its distribution in periimplant bone was revealed by exposing histologic sections to autoradiography film.

Results: In all six dogs, the concentration of zoledronic acid in immediate periimplant bone was two orders of magnitude higher than in any other sampled tissue, averaging 732.6 ng/g at 6 weeks and 377.2 ng/g at 52 weeks. Minute amounts of zoledronic acid (≤ 7.2 ng/g) were detected throughout the skeleton, indicating some escape into the circulation after local elution. Autoradiographs revealed the greatest concentration of zoledronic acid on and within the implant, with rapid decrease short distances away and no uptake within the femoral cortex.

Conclusions: Zoledronic acid eluted from an implant remains mainly localized with minimal systemic distribution.

Clinical Relevance: Local bisphosphonate elution reduces the risk of systemic side effects and skeletal bisphosphonate exposure.