Medical implants are formed at least in part from porous metal wherein the
pores of the metal are filled with a hardenable material. The hardenable
material can be used to assist in the manufacture of the implant,
permitting detailed machining of the implant. Further, the hardenable
material can be a resorbable material that strengthens the implant during
implantation but is resorbed, once implanted, to permit bone growth and
infiltration. Further, in an alternate embodiment, the hardenable
material can be a thermoplastic material that can be heated by ultrasonic
energy to create an adhesive bond between a fastener and bone structure.