Effects of Bisphosphonate Administration on Cleft Bone Graft in a Rat Model.

Objective:  Bone grafts in patients with cleft lip and palate can undergo a significant amount of resorption. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of bisphosphonates (BPs) on the success of bone grafts in rats. Design:  Thirty-five female 15-week-old Fischer F344 Inbred rats were divided into the following experimental groups, each receiving bone grafts to repair an intraoral CSD: (1) Graft/saline: systemic administration of saline and (2) systemic administration of zoledronic acid immediately following surgery (graft/BP/T0), (3) 1 week postoperatively (graft/BP/T1), and (4) 3 weeks postoperatively (graft/BP/T2). As an additional control, the defect was left empty without bone graft. Main Outcome Measures:  Microcomputed tomography and histologic analyses were performed in addition to evaluation of osteoclasts through tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining. Results:  Bone volume fraction (bone volume/tissue volume) for the delayed BP treatment groups (graft/BP/T1 = 45.4% ± 8.8%; graf...