The Current Status of Uncemented Tantalum and Niobium Femoral Endoprostheses

Summary

Ingrowth-type femoral endoprostheses constructed of cold-worked tantalum and niobium were implanted without cement in beagle dogs for unilateral total hip replacement. Twenty-one tantalum stems and 6 out of 13 niobium stems were evaluated after observation periods up to 14 months. Four loose tantalum stems and 3 loose niobium stems were discovered. The remaining stable implants were shown to be solidly anchored to the bone by the histologic examination of thin sections. The patterns of attachment were characteristic of uncemented femoral endoprostheses.

These studies were supported by Metallwerke Plansee A.G., Reutte, Austria, and by the Research Promotion Fund of the Gewerbliche Wirtschaft of Austria, Project No. 3/1851-1/P