Trabecular Metal™ Material

Trabecular Metal™ material, an evolution in technology, is a highly porous, structural biomaterial conducive to rapid, substantial bone ingrowth. Trabecular Metal material provides spine surgeons an alternative to allograft bone.

Trabecular Metal Material

Trabecular Metal material offers:

  • High volume porosity capable of supporting tissue ingrowth
  • Physical and mechanical properties similar to those of bone
  • High coefficient of friction that can aid in initial device stability
  • Low antigenicity to reduce risk of immune response
  • Availability in shapes and sizes appropriate for spinal applications

Fabricated using elemental tantalum metal, Trabecular Metal material has a metallic strut configuration similar to trabecular bone. It unites strength and corrosion resistance with excellent biocompatibility. These characteristics help explain tantalum’s surgical use for more than 60 years in applications such as cranioplasty plates and pacemaker leads.¹

IMPROVED POROSITY FOR EARLY FIXATION

As Trabecular Metal material is much more porous than cortical allograft,²,³  tissue in growth may enhance the early fixation of Trabecular Metal devices in comparison to allograft cortical bone.

COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH WITHSTANDS PHYSIOLOGIC LOADING

Trabecular Metal material’s compressive strength is greater than cancellous bone, making it capable of withstanding most physiologic loading. The mechanical structure of  Trabecular Metal material provides ongoing stability. This unique material also has  high ductility to reduce potential for failure during placement.

LOAD TRANSFER MINIMIZES STRESS SHIELDING

Trabecular Metal material has an elastic modulus that is a fraction of that of allograft cortical bone. This facilitates physiologic load transfer to the bone, helping to minimize stress shielding.

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Refer to the INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE for detailed indications, precautions, and possible adverse effects.
1 Black J. Biological performance of tantalum. Clin Materials. 1994;16:167-173.
2 Bobyn JD, Hacking SA, Chan SP, et al. Characterization of new porous tantalum biomaterial for reconstructive orthopaedics. Scientific Exhibit, Proc of AAOs.
Anaheim, CA, 1999.
3 Bousson V, Meunier A, Bergot C, Vicaut E, Rocha MA, Morais MH, Laval-Jeantet AM, Laredo JD. Distribution of intracortical porosity in human midfermoral cortex by
age and gender. J Bone Miner Res. 2001 Jul;16(7):1308-1317.
4 Bobyn JD, Pillar RM, Cameron HU, et al. The optimum pore size for the fixation of porous surfaced metal implants by the ingrowth on bone. Clin Orthop Rel Res.1980;150:263-270.
5 Kyrgier JJ, Bobyn JD, Poggie RA, et al. Mechanical characterization of a new porous tantalum biomaterial for orthopaedic reconstruction. Proc SIROT. Sydney, Australia, 1999.