Comparison of Bone Mineral Density Between Porous Tantalum and Cemented Tibial Total Knee Arthroplasty Components

By Yukihide Minoda, MD, PhD, Akio Kobayashi, MD, PhD, Hiroyoshi Iwaki, MD, PhD, Mitsuhiko Ikebuchi, MD, Fumiaki Inori, MD, PhD, and Kunio Takaoka, MD, PhD
 
J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2010;92:700-6 d doi:10.2106/JBJS.H.01349

Abstract: Porous tantalum was recently introduced as a metallic implant material for total knee arthroplasty. Its porosity, low modulus of elasticity, and high frictional characteristics were expected to provide physiologic load transfer and relative preservation of bone stock. However, to our knowledge, the effect of a Trabecular Metal tibial component on bone mineral density has not been reported. The purpose of the present study was to compare the periprosthetic bone mineral density between patients managed with uncemented Trabecular Metal and cemented tibial components.

Conclusions: The decrease in bone mineral density of the lateral tibial plateau was less in knees with a Trabecular Metal tibial component following total knee arthroplasty than in knees with a cemented tibial component. Additional research is needed to determine whether long-term clinical benefits are realized with the use of porous tantalum tibial components for total knee arthroplasty.