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Three-Year Changes in Bone Mineral Density Around the Knee After a Six-Month Course of Oral Alendronate Following Total Knee Arthroplasty

A Prospective, Randomized Study

¹ Departments of Orthopedic Surgery (C.-J.W., J.-W.W., J.-Y.K., and L.-H.W.) and Diagnostic Radiology (C.-C.H.), Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Kaohsiung, 123 Ta-Pei Road, Niao-Sung Hsiang, Kaohsiung, Taiwan 833. E-mail address for C.-J. Wang: w281211{at}adm.cgmh.org.tw

Investigation performed at the Departments of Orthopedic Surgery and Diagnostic Radiology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

In support of their research for or preparation of this manuscript, one or more of the authors received grants or outside funding from the National Science Council (NSC89-2314-13-182A-188) and Chang Gung Research Fund (CMRP-1026). None of the authors received payments or other benefits or a commitment or agreement to provide such benefits from a commercial entity. No commercial entity paid or directed, or agreed to pay or direct, any benefits to any research fund, foundation, educational institution, or other charitable or nonprofit organization with which the authors are affiliated or associated.

Methods: Sixty patients were randomly assigned to receive either oral alendronate at a dosage of 10 mg/day for six months or no alendronate. The bone mineral density in the distal aspect of the femur and the proximal aspect of the tibia was measured preoperatively and at six, twelve, and thirty-six months after total knee arthroplasty.

Results: Fifty-four patients (twenty-nine in the alendronate group and twenty-five in the control group) completed the study. The alendronate group showed significant increases in bone mineral density in the distal aspect of the femur compared with the controls at six months (+4.8% and –14.2%, respectively; p < 0.01) and twelve months (+1.6% and –11.5%, respectively; p < 0.01). No significant difference in bone mineral density was detected between the groups at thirty-six months (–3.9% and –12.2%, respectively; p = 0.08). Similar trends in bone mineral density changes were also observed in the proximal aspect of the tibia.

Conclusions: A six-month course of alendronate initially increased bone mineral density at six and twelve months after total knee arthroplasty, but no difference was noted after thirty-six months. The effect of alendronate on bone mineral density after total knee arthroplasty may be limited after discontinuation of therapy.

Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level I. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

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