DJO Global, Inc. has announced that the first TaperFill Total Hip Replacement (THR) was implanted. TaperFill was developed to accommodate a minimally invasive procedure. TaperFill is the first DJO product fabricated with the new, proprietary P2 porous coating. According to the company, its pore size variability is similar to lava rock, which has been demonstrated in studies to provide optimal bone ingrowth.
TaperFill Total Hip Implanted
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The TaperFill Hip Stem design incorporates a proven tapered wedge stem philosophy, integrating a filling proximal geometry to prevent subsidence, an issue that has deterred surgeons from using certain bone-preserving THRs. The immediate inherent stability created by a metaphyseal fill and biological fixation is intended to allow for solid long-term endurance of the implant.
“Today’s total hip patients have generally been very active and thus have replacement surgery at a younger age than in years past. These younger patients expect to return to an active life following implantation, ” said Bryan Monroe, senior vice president and general manager of DJO Surgical, in the July 29, 2013 news release. “This evolution in implant design is well suited for a minimally invasive approach by the surgeon to facilitate the patient’s return to normal activity.”
The Femoral Stem implant was shortened for improved maneuverability through tissue sparing and bone preserving surgical techniques. DJO is pairing the new TaperFill Hip with a best in class training program for the direct anterior approach (DAA) in THR.
Dr. Richard Reitman (Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital, Plano, Texas) co-designed and implanted the first TaperFill. Dr. Reitman commented, “The stem’s shortened length and shape allowed it to be inserted with minimal tissue trauma, unlike the other currently available tissue sparing designs. The TaperFill stem engages substantially more proximal bone, which gives me the confidence to allow my patients to immediately bear weight and return to normal activity.”
Initial implantations of TaperFill are underway, and commercialization is anticipated by the end of 2013. The TaperFill system complements DJO’s Linear tapered hip system and the P2FMP acetabular cups.
Asked for an update on the patient’s progress, a company representative told OTW, “We do not comment on specific patients.”
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This is a fascinating development. In my practice we've seen similar outcomes with the revised protocol. The key differentiator seems to be patient selection criteria. Has anyone else noticed the correlation with BMI thresholds?
Great point. I'd push back slightly on the conclusion, the sample size in the cited study is too small to draw population-level inferences. That said, the directional signal is compelling and worth a larger RCT.
We implemented a similar approach last year. Early results are promising but we're still gathering 12-month follow-up data. Happy to share our protocol if anyone is interested.
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