Trabecular Metal™ Technology


Watch Video: Trabecular Metal Technology
Presented By: Cheryl Blanchard, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Research and Development and Chief Scientific Officer

The Proven Advantages of Zimmer® Trabecular Metal Material

Simply put, it simulates bone like no other prosthetic material.  That’s because Trabecular Metal Material is designed to replicate the shape, the cellular structure, the elasticity, and the weight-bearing characteristics of bone.  It’s a unique, highly porous, three-dimensional biomaterial, not a coating.  Thus, it allows significant bone and soft-tissue ingrowth.  With over 200,000 worldwide surgeries performed since 1997 using Trabecular Metal Implants, the results are in:  Trabecular Metal Material is indeed The Best Thing Next to Bone.

Trabecular Metal Technology

A Decade of Clinical Success

  • Clinical success since 1997
  • 75-80% porous, permeability similar to bone1,2,3
  • Enables osteoconduction and fixation1,2,3
  • High strength and ductility1,2
  • Elasticity similar to bone1,2
  • Intrinsically high friction and stability5,6

Trabecular Metal Products

For optimizing implant fixation, stability, and alignment for primary or revision surgery, Zimmer offers surgeons an opportunity to achieve an excellent level of implant fixation, stability, and alignment while addressing the issues associated with polyethylene wear debris and stress shielding.7

View Animations

Bone Ingrowth
Friction Fit
Modulus of Elasticity

References:

  1. Bobyn JD, Stackpool GJ, Hacking SA, Tanzer M, Krygier JJ.  Characteristics of bone in-growth and interface mechanics of a new porous tantalum biomaterial.  J Bone Joint Surg. September 1999; 81-B(5):907-914.
  2. Bobyn JD, Hacking SA, Krygier JJ, Chan SP, Toh KK, Tanzer M. Characterization of a new porous tantalum biomaterial for reconstructive surgery.  Scientific Exhibition: 66th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons; February 4-8, 1999; Anaheim, CA.
  3. Shimko DA, Shimko VF, Sander EA, Dickson KF, Nauman EA. Effect of porosity on the fluid flow characteristics and mechanical properties of tantalum scaffolds. Published on-line February 2005 in Wiley Interscience (www.interscience.wiley.com).
  4. Bobyn JD, Toh KK, Hacking SA, Tanzer M, Krygier JJ. Tissue response to porous tantalum acetabular cups - a canine model. J Arthroplasty. 1999;14(3):347-354.
  5. Zhang Y, Ahn PB, Fitzpatrick DC, Heiner AD, Poggie RA, Brown TD. Interfacial frictional behavior: cancellous bone, cortical bone, and a novel porous tantalum biomaterial. Journal of Musculoskeletal Research. 1999;3(4):245-251.
  6. Shirazi-Adi A, Dammak M, Paiement G. Experimental determination of friction characteristics at the trabecular bone/porous-coated metal interface in cementless implants, J Biomed Mat Res. 1993;27:167-175.
  7. Rawlinson JJ, Wright TM, Bartel DL. Finite element analysis of a porous tantalum monoblock tibia compared with a metal-backed tibial component. Presented at: 51st Annual Meeting, Orthopaedic Research Society; February, 2005; Washington D.C.
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