title: Tantalum is a good bone graft substitute in tibial tubercle advancement.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Porous tantalum is reportedly a good substitute for structural bone graft in several applications. So far, its use has not been reported in tibial tuberosity anteriorization (TTA) for treatment of isolated degenerative chondral lesions of the patellofemoral joint.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We asked whether the use of this material would produce similar standardized functional scores, pain (VAS), fusion rates, complications, and patient satisfaction to those for bone graft.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a randomized, controlled trial in 101 patients (108 knees) scheduled for TTA comparing a porous tantalum implant (57 knees) with an autologous local tibial bone graft (51 knees). The minimum followup was 5 years (mean, 6.2 years; range, 5-8 years).
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the last followup, clinical scores, fusion rates, and maintenance of the anteriorization either were better or similar for the TTA using the tantalum implant depending on the respective parameter. The operative technique was easier and shorter with the tantalum device. Complication and failure rates were greater using bone graft. Patient satisfaction was greater using the tantalum implant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Porous tantalum provided a reasonable alternative to bone graft in TTA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Level I, therapeutic study. See Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Cirugía Ortopédica y Traumatología de Barcelona, Barcelona 08034, Spain. mferfai@gmail.com
authors.forename: Mariano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fernandez-Fairen
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Querales
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jakowlew
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Murcia
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ballester
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D001182:Arthroscopy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D057071:Patellofemoral Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D011859:Radiography; D013635:Tantalum / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013977:Tibia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013635:Tantalum