Tigran Technologies has its origins in orthopedics. The first use of Tigran™ porous titanium granules was in 1987–88, when they were used for the fixation of hip prostheses. The titanium granules were found to provide initial mechanical stability, a scaffold for bone regeneration and ingrowth and excellent long-term clinical results (1, 2).
Animal experiments using a hemiarthroplasty model demonstrated bone ingrowth through the porous granules, which resulted in the formation of an integrated mantle of lamellar bone and titanium granules around the prosthesis, in continuity with the surrounding cortex – suggesting the possibility of obtaining the much desired permanent prosthetic fixation by direct contact (osseointegration) between bone and prosthesis (3, 4).
In a pilot study on depression fractures of the lateral tibial plateau, where titanium granules were used to support the elevated articular surface, the clinical and radiological results were excellent (5).
Preliminary results of an ongoing randomized trial of depression fractures of the lateral tibial plateau show that titanium granules have several advantages over bone graft. The most important is that the granules are not resorbed, which means that the joint surface congruity achieved during surgery is maintained during the healing period (6).
1. Bjursten LM, Bruce L, Urban RM, Alffram P-A, Bruce I, Andersson GBJ. Implantation of the femoral stem into a bed of titanium granules using vibration provides long term clinical stability. Trans Soc Biomater 1999;25:472.
2. Alffram P-A, Bruce L, Bjursten LM, Urban RM, Andersson GBJ. Implantation of the femoral stem into a bed of titanium granules using vibration. A pilot study of a new method for prosthetic fixation in five patients followed for up to 15 years. Ups J Med Sci 2007;112(2):183–9.
3. Turner TM, Urban RM, Jacobs JJ, Berzins A, Hall DJ, Lawrence-Smith AM, Bjursten LM, Bruce L, Bruce I, Alffram P, Andersson GBJ. Fixation of a femoral hip stem by vibration into porous titanium granules in a canine model. Trans Orthop Res Soc 2000;25:532.
4. Turner TM, Urban RM, Hall DJ, Andersson GBJ. Bone ingrowth through porous titanium granulate around a femoral stem. Histological assessment in a six-month canine hemiarthroplasty model. Ups J Med Sci 2007;112(2):191–7.
5. Jónsson B, Mjöberg B. Surgical treatment of depression fractures of the lateral tibial plateau using porous titanium granules. Ups J Med Sci 2009;114(1):52–4.
6. Jónsson, B. Operativ behandling av laterala tibiakondylfrakturer med porösa titangranuler eller med bentransplantat – preliminära resultat från en pågående randomiserad studie [Surgical treatment of lateral tibial plateau fractures with porous titanium granules or with bone graft – preliminary results from an ongoing randomized study]. Presented at the 67th Annual Meeting of the Swedish Orthopedic Association, August 29 – September 2, 2011, Karlskrona, Sweden. [English translation by Tigran]