Soft-Tissue Reconstruction with a Porous Metal Prosthesis

Principal Investigators: David G. Lewallen, M.D. and John S. Reach, Jr., M.D.
Project Coordinator: Mark Zobitz — zobitz.mark@mayo.edu

Figure 11: Tendon ingrowth to porous metal prosthesis.

The ability to attach soft-tissue directly to metal has broad clinical application. Prior attempts to attach tendon directly to metal have been unsuccessful. Recently materials such as porous trabecular tantalum have shown promise in tissue in-growth fixation. In the present study, a soft-tissue attachment device was designed and used to reattach the supraspinatus tendon to the greater tuberosity in a canine in vivo model. Tendon-implant strength returned to normal within 6 weeks post-operative and histological analysis showed tendon in-growth into the metal prosthesis (Figure 11).