When a primary knee replacement fails, surgeons often face a difficult challenge: replacing the joint when there is significant bone loss. To fix this, they sometimes use metaphyseal cones. These are porous structures made of materials like tantalum or 3D-printed titanium designed to help the bone grow into the implant and stay stable.
A large review of data from over 4,000 patients shows these cones perform well. Patients reported good functional scores, and the cones showed a 96% rate of osseointegration, which is the process where bone grows into the metal. The study also found that both tantalum and titanium materials performed similarly, as did different methods of securing the implant.
While the results are promising, there are still risks to consider. The study noted that infection was the main reason for removing a cone if one had to be taken out. However, the overall rate of removing these cones was low, at 3.6%. Because this data comes from a mix of different study types, talk to your surgeon about how these specific materials might fit your unique needs.
