Abstracts Posters SICOT-SOF meeting Gothenburg 2010 _2_

Poster
Topic: Biomaterials
Abstract number: 23683
TANTALUM IMPLANT FOR ADVANCEMENT OF TIBIAL TUBERCLE. A
PROSPECTIVE RANDOMIZED STUDY.
Ana TORRES 1 , Mariano FERNANDEZ-FAIREN 2 , Alexander JAKOWLEW 2 , Virginia
QUERALES 2 , Antonio MURCIA 1 , Jorge BALLESTER 4
1 Hospital de Cabueñes, Gijon (SPAIN), 2 Instituto de Cirugía Ortopédica y
Traumatología De Barcelona, Barcelona (SPAIN), 3 Universidad Autónoma de
Barcelona, Barcelona (SPAIN)
The aim of this prospective randomized controlled trial is to evaluate the
effectiveness and safety of a porous tantalum implant in achieving anteriorization of
the tibial tubercle in painful patellofemoral degenerative chondral defects. From
January 2000-November 2003, 108 knees-101 patients with degenerative
patellofemoral cartilage .51 received autologous corticocancellous bone graft (Group
1) and 57 other knees received a porous tantalum implant (Group 2). An arthroscopy
was done previously to assess the degree and location of chondral lesions and the
patellar tracking .The same senior surgeon carried out all surgeries. The operation
time, blood loss, and duration of hospital stay were recorded. Full weight bearing and
unrestricted motion were permitted from the first postoperative day. The average
duration of surgery was 53minutes (Group 2) versus 98.5 (Group 1). Blood loss was
greater for graft group. Clinical results and fusion rate were similar in both groups.
There was no influence on the results of t age, sex, weight, preoperative pain or
patellofemoral joint space narrowing. The grade of preoperative patellofemoral
chondral lesions had a significant predictive value. DISCUSSION: The reliability of
the tibial tuberosity advancement to treat patellofemoral chondral lesions remains a
controversial issue. An adequate indication and a proper surgical technique facilitate
a good result in their treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The result of this study shows the
simplicity and the lack of negative effects of this procedure. The operative technique
of the tantalum implant is easier and shorter. The high porosity of this implant
enhances bone integration.
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