ABSTRACT
The success of total joint replacements (TJR) is due to extensive and systematic investigations into various clinical and biological aspects of the hip joint andmaterials replacing it. Despite the plethora of enhancements, peri-implant bone loss continues to be the primary cause for failure and revision of TJRs in both hips and knees (1-3). Detailed investigations by Charnley, Willert, and others (4-7), laid the foundation for the development of experimental models to understand this process of pathological bone loss. These models facilitated in-depth investigations into the biological environment contributing to implant failure and permitted the analysis of specific mechanisms leading to bone resorption. Experimental models allowed researchers to avoid the inherent challenges in clinical investigations and provided an opportunity to study the biological system within a relatively controlled environment. The integration of information gathered from in vitro and in vivo methods, as well as analyses of retrieved clinical materials, helps bridge the gap between laboratory investigations and clinical events occurring in the patient.
