Method of making orthopaedic implant by welding

A method of forming an orthopaedic hip stem prosthesis having an annular porous surface, the method comprising the steps of;

• a) providing an orthopaedic hip stem implant having a body including an elongated stem portion and a neck portion;
• b) providing a first porous pad having a solid surface and a porous surface and including terminal edges;
• c) forming the first porous pad to substantially conform to a portion of the implant body and stem;
• d) providing a second porous pad having a solid surface and a porous surface and including terminal edges;
• e) forming the second porous pad to substantially conform to a portion of the implant body and stem;
• f) positioning the first porous pad and the second porous pad about the implant such that terminal edges of the first and second porous pads are adjacent;
• and
• g) forming a weld bead along the terminal edges to weld the first porous pad to the second porous pad such that the weld bead does not contact the body of the implant.