Assessment of bone surrounding implants in goats: ex vivo measurements by dual X-ray absorptiometry

The aim of the present study is to determine the possibility of measuring the bone mineral density (BMD) around implants by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Therefore, the trabecular BMD was measured close to 127–600 μm and at a distance from various uncoated and Ca---P-coated implants inserted into the femoral condyle of goats. The implants were left in situ for 12 weeks. In addition, the bone-implant interface was evaluated histologically. For comparative reasons the BMD of non-implanted lateral and medial femoral condyles was also measured.