Eur J Anat, 4 (2): 61-67 (2000)

Influence of osteoporosis on osseointegration: An experimental study

De Arriba C.C., Tabuenca J., Rodriguez-Torres R., Fernandez-Valencia R., Carrascosa-Sanchez J., Gomez-Pellico L.

Depto. de Ciencias Morfol. y Cirugia, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Alcalá, 28871 Alcala de Henares, Madrid, Spain

ABSTRACT The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the quality of osseointegration in osteoporotic animals, receiving implants with hydroxyapatite coating. Wistar rats. aged 20 weeks were used. Two groups, control and experimental, were established. The second group was subjected to bilateral ovariectomy to induce osteoporosis. Both groups received intramedullary implants in one of their femora at the age of 36 weeks, the other femur remaining without implant, 12 weeks later, all the animals were sacrificed. Densitometric, histological and morphometric analyses were performed. All the results confirmed a poorer bone response to the implant in the osteoporotic group. However, the bone mineral density and morphometrical values for the implanted osteoporotic group were higher than those observed for the osteoporotic group without the implant, suggesting that the implant stimulates new bone formation and slows down the process of osteoporosis.

Keywords: hydroxyapatite, animal experiment, animal model, animal tissue, article, bone density, bone mineral, bone regeneration, controlled study, densitometry, femur, implant, morphometrics, nonhuman, ovariectomy, postmenopause osteoporosis, rat