[LETTERHEAD OF LATHAM & WATKINS APPEARS HERE]


                                                                    EXHIBIT 5.01

                                 March 14, 2000


Interpore International, Inc.
181 Technology Drive
Irvine, California 92618

               Re:   Secondary Offering of up to 4,600,000 shares of Common
                     Stock of Interpore International, Inc., par value $0.01 per
                     share

Ladies and Gentlemen:

          In connection with the registration of up to 4,600,000 shares of
common stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share (the "Shares"), under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), by Interpore International,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), on Form S-3 filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") on March 14, 2000 (the
"Registration Statement"), you have requested our opinion with respect to the
matters set forth below.

          In our capacity as your counsel in connection with such registration,
we are familiar with the proceedings taken and proposed to be taken by the
Company in connection with the authorization, issuance and sale of the Shares,
and for the purposes of this opinion, have assumed such proceedings will be
timely completed in the manner presently proposed. In addition, 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.


Interpore International, Inc.
March 14, 2000
Page 2

          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, and we express no
opinion with respect to the applicability thereto, or the effect thereon, of the
laws of any other jurisdiction or, in the case of Delaware, any other laws, or
as to any matters of municipal law or the laws of any local agencies within any
state.

          Subject to the foregoing, it is our opinion that the Shares have been
duly authorized, and that the shares to be offered by the selling stockholders
are, and the shares to be offered by the Company, upon issuance, delivery and
payment therefor in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement, will
be, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

          We consent to your filing this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm contained under the
heading "Legal Matters".

                                    Very truly yours,

                                    /s/ LATHAM & WATKINS