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                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1


                          [Latham & Watkins Letterhead]



                                September 1, 1999



Board of Directors
Interpore International, Inc.
181 Technology Road
Irvine, California 92718

            Re:  Registration Statement on Form S-8

Gentlemen:

            In connection with the registration under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, of an additional 200,000 shares (the "Shares") of common
stock, $.01 par value, of Interpore International, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), issuable under the Amended and Restated Interpore
International, Inc. Employee Qualified Stock Purchase Plan (the "Plan") by the
Company on a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement")
to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, you have requested our
opinion with respect to matters set forth below.

            We have made such legal and factual examinations and inquiries,
including an examination of originals or copies certified or otherwise
identified to our satisfaction of such documents, corporate records and
instruments, as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for purposes of this
opinion. In our examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures,
the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, and the
conformity to authentic original documents of all documents submitted to us as
copies.

      We are opining herein as to the effect on the subject transaction only of
the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, including statutory and
reported decisional law thereunder, and we express no opinion with respect to
the applicability thereto, or the effect thereon, of any other laws.

      Subject to the foregoing and in reliance thereon, we are of the opinion
that, as of the date hereof, upon the issuance and sale of the Shares, each in
the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement and each in accordance
with the terms of the Plan, and subject to the Company completing all action and
proceedings required on its part to be taken prior to the issuance of the Shares
pursuant to the terms of the Plan and the Registration Statement, including,
without limitation, collection of required payment for the Shares, the Shares
will be legally and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable securities of
the Company.

      This opinion is rendered only to you and is solely for your benefit in
connection with the transactions covered hereby. This opinion may not be relied
upon by you for any other purpose, or furnished to, quoted to or relied upon by
any other person, firm or corporation for any purpose, without our prior written
consent. We consent to your filing this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement.

                                        Very truly yours


                                        /s/ Latham & Watkins



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