Skip to Content
Merck

Porous tantalum in reconstructive surgery of the knee: a review.

The journal of knee surgery (2007-08-02)
Brett Levine, Scott Sporer, Craig J Della Valle, Joshua J Jacobs, Wayne Paprosky
ABSTRACT

Porous tantalum represents an alternative metal for primary and revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA) with several unique properties. Tantalum is a transition metal, which in its bulk form has shown excellent biocompatibility and is safe to use in vivo as evidenced by its current application in pacemaker electrodes, cranioplasty plates, and as radiopaque markers. Current designs for orthopedic implants maintain a high volumetric porosity (70%-80%), low modulus of elasticity (3 MPa), and high frictional characteristics, making this metal conducive to biologic fixation. The low modulus of elasticity of such components allows for more physiologic load transfer and relative preservation of bone stock. Its more bioactive nature and ingrowth properties have led to its use in primary as well as revision knee components with good early clinical results reported. In revision arthroplasty, it has been used as a structural bone graft substitute. Formation of a bone-like apatite coating in vivo affords strong fibrous ingrowth properties and allows for substantial soft-tissue attachment with the potential for use in cases such as mega-prostheses and patella salvage. Although porous tantalum is in its early stages of evolution, the initial clinical data and basic science studies support its use as an alternative to traditional orthopedic implant materials.

MATERIALS
Product Number
Brand
Product Description

Sigma-Aldrich
Tantalum, powder, 60-100 mesh, 99.9%
Sigma-Aldrich
Tantalum, foil, thickness 0.05 mm, ≥99.9% trace metals basis
Sigma-Aldrich
Tantalum, powder, −325 mesh, 99.9% trace metals basis
Tantalum, tube, 500mm, outside diameter 0.80mm, inside diameter 0.50mm, wall thickness 0.15mm, as drawn, 99.9%
Tantalum, tube, 200mm, outside diameter 1.02mm, inside diameter 0.86mm, wall thickness 0.08mm, as drawn, 99.9%
Tantalum, wire reel, 2m, diameter 1.0mm, annealed, 99.9%
Tantalum, tube, 200mm, outside diameter 5.0mm, inside diameter 4.4mm, wall thickness 0.3mm, as drawn, 99.9%
Tantalum, wire, straight, 300mm, diameter 0.5mm, annealed, 99.9%
Tantalum, foil, 0.2m coil, thickness 0.01mm, 99.9%
Tantalum, foil, 100x100mm, thickness 1.5mm, annealed, 99.9%
Tantalum, foil, 0.5m coil, thickness 0.034mm, as rolled, 99.9%
Tantalum, foil, 50x50mm, thickness 0.15mm, annealed, 99.9%
Tantalum, foil, 100x100mm, thickness 0.100mm, annealed, 99.9%
Tantalum, foil, 10m coil, thickness 0.025mm, coil width 0.75mm, annealed, 99.9%
Tantalum, foil, 150x150mm, thickness 0.100mm, annealed, 99.9%
Tantalum, foil, 25x25mm, thickness 0.5mm, annealed, 99.9%
Tantalum, foil, 0.5m coil, thickness 0.03mm, coil width 0.75mm, annealed, 99.9%
Tantalum, foil, 50x50mm, thickness 0.25mm, annealed, 99.9%
Tantalum, foil, 0.5m coil, thickness 0.0075mm, 99.9%
Tantalum, foil, 50x50mm, thickness 4.0mm, annealed, 99.9%
Tantalum, foil, 0.5m coil, thickness 0.1mm, coil width .62mm, as rolled, 99.9%
Tantalum, foil, 0.2m coil, thickness 0.03mm, coil width 1.2mm, annealed, 99.9%
Tantalum, foil, 50x50mm, thickness 0.25mm, annealed, 99.99%
Tantalum, foil, 0.5m coil, thickness 0.01mm, 99.9%
Tantalum, foil, 50x50mm, thickness 3.0mm, annealed, 99.9%
Tantalum, foil, 50x50mm, thickness 5.0mm, annealed, 99.9%
Tantalum, foil, 100x100mm, thickness 0.25mm, annealed, 99.99%
Tantalum, foil, 0.1m coil, thickness 0.1mm, coil width .62mm, as rolled, 99.9%
Tantalum, foil, 50x50mm, thickness 0.5mm, annealed, 99.9%
Tantalum, foil, 0.2m coil, thickness 0.0075mm, 99.9%