Use of a trabecular metal cone made of tantalum, to treat bone defects during revision knee arthroplasty☆☆☆

OBJECTIVES the aim of this study was to evaluate the surgical technique and determine the initial results, with a minimum follow-up of two years, from total knee arthroplasty revisions in which trabecular metal cones made of tantalum were used at the Knee Surgery Center of the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics (INTO) or at the authors' private clinic between July 2008 and December 2010. METHODS ten patients were included in the study prospectively, through clinical and radiographic evaluations. RESULTS seven patients presented evolution without complications relating to the tantalum cones used. Five of these patients said that they did not have any pain and all of them were able to walk without needing crutches. In all the cases, we observed that osseointegration of the tantalum cones had occurred. No migration or loosening of the implants was observed, nor was osteolysis. CONCLUSION use of trabecular metal cones made of tantalum for treating AORI type II or II bone defects was capable of providing efficient structural support to the prosthetic revision implants, in evaluations with a short follow-up.