Histologic retrieval analysis of a porous tantalum metal implant in an infected primary total knee arthroplasty.

Abstract Porous tantalum (Zimmer, Inc, Warsaw, Ind) has the theoretical advantage of improved biologic fixation because of its high porosity, interconnected pore space, and modulus of elasticity. We present a case report documenting the retrieval and bone ingrowth analysis of a porous tantalum tibial component in an infected total knee arthroplasty. Results demonstrated a significantly larger amount of bone ingrowth present in the tibial posts (36.7%) when compared with the bone ingrowth into the tibial baseplate (4.9%) ( P