Journal
JOURNAL OF HAND SURGERY-AMERICAN VOLUME
Volume 30A, Issue 6, Pages 1128-1135Publisher
W B SAUNDERS CO-ELSEVIER INC
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2005.08.008
Keywords
four-corner fusion; limited wrist arthrodesis; porous metal; tantalum; trabecular metal
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Purpose: Interest has focused on porous materials that promote bony ingrowth. In this study a porous tantalum implant was used as an adjunct to intercarpal stabilization in a canine model of wrist arthrodesis. Methods: A defect was created at the junction of the radiocarpal, ulnocarpal, and fourth carpil bones, analogous to a four-corner fusion site in humans. A tantalum cylinder was press'-fit and stabilized with K-wires. Controls were represented by creating the defect without implant placement. Animals were killed at 4, 8, and 12 weeks. Results: Histology showed bony ingrowth as early as 4 weeks and mechanical testing showed a statistically significant increase in strength of the construct over time. Controls failed to achieve union at any time point. Conclusions: The implant served as an adjunct to stabilization of the carpus in this model of four-corner fusion, suggesting a novel application of this material in conditions in which bone graft has been required previously. This study represents a preliminary investigation of the use of a tantalum device for intercarpal stabilization; it does not compare this technique with conventional methods.
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