Patellar Tendon Attachment and Healing to Porous Tantalum: An Experimental Canine Study

In patients with patellar tendon avulsion associated with total knee arthroplasty, or those with massive proximal tibial bone loss and segmental replacement, restoration of extensor mechanism integrity by direct patellar tendon healing to a prosthetic surface might provide for improved functional outcomes. Porous tantalum is an interesting new biomaterial, which appears to provide for rapid bone and soft tissue ingrowth into the interconnected porosities of the material (Bobyn et al, Reach et al). This study was done to determine whether patellar tendon attachment to a porous tantalum surface might result in tendon healing sufficient to resist physiological loads.