Both ankle implant designs are intended for use as an adjunct to an ankle fusion device used in the stabilization of fractures, revision procedures, and joint fusion of bones between the tibia and the talus and where bone voids exist.
Zimmer Trabecular Metal Material is unlike allograft in this type of application due to the risk of resorption and difficulty of shaping allograft spacers. The porous nature of this material allows for biologic in-growth and vascularization.
The Zimmer Trabecular Metal Ankle Interpositional Spacer is implanted using an anterior approach. This ankle implant device is used to fill bone voids that may be present in the talus and tibia during ankle fusion surgery.
It is indicated for ankle fusion procedures where significant bone voids exist, often resulting from a failed total ankle replacement that is removed for a subsequent total ankle fusion.
It is available in three base sizes (Small, Medium and Large) with four height options (25, 30, 35 and 40mm). The tapered design is intended to minimize soft tissue irritation.
This ankle fusion spacer is used to maintain the height of the ankle joint when a primary ankle fusion surgery procedure is performed. Joint height is typically lost when the proximal talus and distal tibia are resected to clear the diseased area of the joint and create flat surfaces for a fusion.
The Zimmer Trabecular Metal Ankle Fusion Spacer is implanted using an anterior approach. It is indicated for primary ankle fusion procedures for patients with several types of arthritis:
This spacer is available in three base sizes (Small, Medium and Large) with a height of 7.5mm. It works with contemporary ankle fusion nails up to 10mm in diameter or plate systems.
Both Zimmer ankle implant devices are designed to maximize cortical coverage of the talus and align properly with the tibia. These implant designs were optimized by analyzing computer models of human ankles from a wide range of both genders and ethnicities. This research helped to design an implant that is soft tissue friendly by reducing the likelihood of overhang.
This robust database along with its associated proprietary technology has enabled Zimmer to move to the forefront of product design for the ankle joint.
A fully developed instrument system featuring an adjustable resection guide allows for more precise bone cuts leading to a snug interface between the implant and bone.
The instrumentation can be adjusted for patient deformities allowing for site preparation, trialing and implant insertion. In addition, the instrumentation features provisionals with alignment references that can be seen on x-ray.
Trabecular Metal Material is a unique, highly porous material made from elemental tantalum with structural and mechanical properties similar to that of cancellous bone. The material has over 15 years of clinical history in wide variety of orthopaedic applications.
Features of Trabecular Metal Material:
1. Karageorgiou V., Kaplan D. Porosity of 3D biomaterial
scaffolds and osteogenesis.
Biomaterials 26 (2005) 5474-5491.
