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Researchers evaluate porous tantalum patellar components in revision TKA
Kamath AF. J Arthroplasty. 2012 Jan;27(1):82-7. Epub 2011 Jul 12.
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Researchers from Philadelphia found that porous tantalum (PT) patellar components are a viable solution in revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA) with sufficient host bone contact.
“Revision TKA may be complicated by severe patellar bone loss that can preclude the use of standard cemented patellar components,” the authors wrote in the study. “Although patelloplasty or patellactomy is an acceptable treatment option in the setting of severe bone loss, both result in inferior functional outcomes when compared with revision TKA and resurfacing of the patella.”
The researchers conducted a midterm follow-up study, looking at 23 PT components in 6 men and 17 women with an average age of 62 years. All patellae had less than 10-mm residual thickness. The PT shell was secured to host bone, and a 3-peg polyethylene component was cemented onto the shell.
Average follow-up was 7.7 years, according to the abstract. At the follow-up the Knee Society scores for pain and function averaged 82.7 and 33.3, respectively, whereas the mean Oxford knee score was 32.6. Four patients underwent revision surgery, and reported survivorship was 19 out of 23 patients.
“Porous tantalum patellar components can provide fixation where severe bone loss precludes the use of traditional implants,” the authors wrote. “Failures were associated with avascular residual bone and fixation of components to the extensor mechanism.”