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Tantalum cones may yield excellent clinical, radiographic outcomes in patients with knee PJI
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The use of tantalum cones in patients with massive bone defects who undergo septic knee revision surgery may yield excellent clinical and radiographic midterm outcomes, as well as a low complication rate, according to results published in The Journal of Arthroplasty.
Researchers analyzed functional scores, radiographic outcomes and implant survivorship in 60 patients with knee periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) treated with 94 femoral or tibial metaphyseal porous tantalum cones (Trabecular Metal, Zimmer) during septic two-stage revision total knee arthroplasty for massive bone loss.
Results showed improvements in mean Knee Society Score from approximately 44.1 to 85.4 and Oxford Knee Score from approximately 19.2 to 38.4. At the last evaluation, researchers noted an increase in mean flexion from approximately 60.6° to 96.8°, as well as a mean improvement in flexion contracture of approximately 6.2. According to results, failure occurred in 3.3% of patients due to periprosthetic knee infection recurrence. However, researchers found no cone-related mechanical failures, with a cone-related survival rate of 97.8%.
“The data indicate that trabecular metal cones are reliable options for the management of metaphyseal bone loss during two-stage knee revisions,” the authors wrote. “Long-term follow-up studies are needed to define the reliability of metaphyseal cones.” – by Casey Tingle
Disclosures: The authors report no relevant financial disclosures.
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