Can Medpor Be Used As An Iliac Crest Implant?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am wondering if you’ve ever done iliac crest augmentation with medpor implants. I don’t really know if the shape of the titanium implant would look natural – even in the photo of the implant on the pelvic bone, on your page titled “Pelvic Plasty for Upper Hip Widening – Iliac Crest Plate Design”. … you can see that the implant does not smoothly extend the natural shape of the iliac crest, but instead juts out a little rearwards of the front outer corner of the iliac crest. Are you considering any other types of implants for this procedure outside of the standard titanium shapes on your website?

A: In answer to your Pelvic Plasty questions:

1) I would never consider the use of Medpor on the iliac crest, too brittle in a load bearing area.

2) There are no current plans for modification of the existing titanium iliac crest implants. It is not simple to change the product shape particularly in terms of the economics in a very infrequently performed procedure. For those seeking a different shape that is where the role of custom titanium implant design and manufacture comes into play.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Plastic Surgeon