TANTALUM BASED IMPLANTS: EXPERIMENTAL AND CLINICAL ASPECTS OF APPLICATION

Abstract

The review tries to generalize the data on the efficacy of tantalum based implants’ (including the components of endoprostheses). At present the information on both experimental (on animals) and clinical results of such implants application is available. It is stated that tantalum coating, especially the one treated with alkaline solutions in their production, possesses marked osteoinductive properties. In presence of additional hydroxyapatite or octacalcium phosphate coatings the latter play the role of peculiar “centers of osteogenesis” around which the chemical growth of the future bone mineral matrix takes place that is subjected to remodeling subsequently. It is also shown that tantalum based porous implants are capable of osteointegration and biological fixation with growth of new bony tissue in the pores and trabeculae of the implant and no fibrotic changes at bone-implant interface are detected. Histologic and biochemical data confirm the efficacy of osteogenesis on such implants. Despite certain encouraging results the clinical use of such implants in patients of older age groups requires an additional study.