Effects of single dose intravenous zoledronic acid administration on mandibular fracture healing

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of systemically administered zoledronic acid on mandibular fracture healing.Thirty-six skeletally mature male New Zealand white rabbits were used. The animals were randomly divided into 2 groups. Animals underwent unilateral mandibular osteotomy. In this wise, a mandibular corpus fracture was created experimentally in all animals. While experimental group rabbits were administered intravenous, single dose of 0.1 mg/kg zoledronic acid; control group rabbits were administered only saline infusion during operation. All animals were sacrificed on the 21st postoperative day. Digital radiodensitometric analysis, 3-point bending test, and histological and histomorphometric examinations were performed on the harvested hemimandibles. The data were statistically analyzed.Biomechanical testing data showed that zoledronic acid treatment resulted in significant increase in the strength of the healing bone. This result was supported by radiological, histological, and histomorphometric findings.Results of this study revealed that systemic administration of zoledronic acid accelerates and improves the bone healing of mandibular fractures.