This paper reports the prospective 2 to 4 year clinical results of a porous tantalum monoblock tibia used in primary TKR, with comparison to a cemented modular tibial implant of the same articulating design.

The subject tibial implant is relatively flexible design comprised of a porous tantalum base plate and direct compression molded polyethylene, with initial fixation achieved by press-fitting two porous tantalum posts. The porous tantalum implant was used without bone cement in 72 knees and with cement in 29 cases. The comparative tibial component was a cemented modular design with the same articulating surface. Clinical and radiographic data were collected prospectively, and consecutively, for 165 primary TKR cases implanted from 2000 – 2003

James Wood, Maurice Cates, Audley Mackel, Randall Morgan, Robert Poggie

The early clinical and radiographic results for the porous tantalum monoblock tibia (cemented and cementless) and the modular cemented implant were statistically the same. The preliminary evidence suggests that cementless application of this design is an attractive alternative for younger, more active patients.