<PAGE>   1
    AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON SEPTEMBER 3, 1999
                                                    REGISTRATION NO. 333-_______
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                          ---------------------------

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                          ---------------------------

                          INTERPORE INTERNATIONAL, INC.
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

           DELAWARE                                          95-3043318
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF                           (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
 INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)                          IDENTIFICATION NUMBER)

                          ---------------------------

                              181 TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
                          IRVINE, CALIFORNIA 92618-2402
           (Address of Principal Executive Offices including Zip Code)

                          ---------------------------

               AMENDED AND RESTATED INTERPORE INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                     EMPLOYEE QUALIFIED STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

                            (FULL TITLE OF THE PLAN)

                          ---------------------------

          RICHARD L. HARRISON                           COPY TO:
   SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT - FINANCE,              CHARLES K. RUCK, ESQ.
     INTERPORE INTERNATIONAL, INC.                  LATHAM & WATKINS
         181 TECHNOLOGY DRIVE                    650 TOWN CENTER DRIVE,
     IRVINE, CALIFORNIA 92618-2402                  TWENTIETH  FLOOR
            (949) 453-3200                    COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA 92626
                                                     (714) 540-1235

                          ---------------------------

               (NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER,
                   INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       PROPOSED        PROPOSED
                                                       MAXIMUM          MAXIMUM
                                       AMOUNT          OFFERING        AGGREGATE     AMOUNT OF
                                       TO BE            PRICE          OFFERING    REGISTRATION
                                    REGISTERED(1)    PER SHARE(2)      PRICE(2)        FEE
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                <C>               <C>              <C>          <C>
Common Stock, $.01 par value(3)    200,000 Shares      $6.71875       $1,343,750      $374
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>


(1)  The Amended and Restated Interpore International, Inc. Employee Stock
     Qualified Plan (the "Plan") authorizes the issuance of a maximum of 300,000
     shares, 100,000 of which have already been registered pursuant to Form S-8
     Registration Statement No. 33-86454. Only the 200,000 newly authorized
     shares under the Plan are registered hereunder.

(2)  Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee
     pursuant to Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and
     is based on the average of the high and low sales price of the Common
     Stock, as reported on The Nasdaq Stock Market on August 31, 1999.

(3)  Each share of Common Stock being registered hereunder, if issued prior to
     the termination by the Company of its Rights Agreement, will include one
     Common Share Purchase Right. Prior to the occurrence of certain events, the
     Common Share Purchase Rights will not be exercisable or evidenced
     separately from the Common Stock.

PROPOSED SALE TO TAKE PLACE AS SOON AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE REGISTRATION
           STATEMENT AS OPTIONS GRANTED UNDER THE PLAN ARE EXERCISED.

================================================================================


                                  Total Pages 7
                             Exhibit Index on Page 4

<PAGE>   2

                                     PART I

      The information called for in Part I of Form S-8 is not being prepared
with or included in this Form S-8 (by incorporation by reference or otherwise)
in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission").

                                     PART II

      This Registration Statement covers 200,000 additional shares of our Common
Stock reserved for issuance under the Amended and Restated Interpore
International, Inc. Employee Qualified Stock Purchase Plan (the "Plan"). Our
Board of Directors recently adopted, and our stockholders recently approved, an
amendment to the Plan which increased the number of shares reserved for issuance
thereunder from 100,000 to 300,000 shares. On November 16, 1994, we filed with
the Commission Form S-8 Registration Statement No. 33-86454 (the "Prior
Registration Statement") covering an aggregate of 100,000 shares issuable under
the Plan. Pursuant to General Instruction E of Form S-8, the contents of the
Prior Registration Statement are incorporated by reference herein to the extent
not modified or superseded thereby or by any subsequently filed document which
is incorporated by reference herein or therein.

ITEM 5. INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL

      The consolidated financial statements of Interpore International, Inc.
appearing in our Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the fiscal year ended December
31, 1998 have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, as set
forth in their report thereon included therein and incorporated herein by
reference. Such financial statements are, and audited financial statements to be
included in subsequently filed documents will be, incorporated herein in
reliance upon the reports of Ernst & Young LLP pertaining to such financial
statements (to the extent covered by consents filed with the Commission) given
on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

      The consolidated financial statements of Cross Medical Products, Inc. and
Subsidiaries (formerly Danninger Medical Technology, Inc. and Subsidiaries) for
the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997 have been audited by
PricewaterhouseCoopers L.L.P., independent accountants, as set forth in their
report thereon included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1998 and incorporated herein by reference. Such financial
statements and schedule are, and audited financials and schedules to be included
in subsequently filed documents will be, incorporated herein on reliance upon
the reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers L.L.P. pertaining to such financial
statements and schedule (to the extent covered by consents filed with the
Commission) given upon the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and
auditing.

ITEM 8. EXHIBITS

      See Index to Exhibits on page 4.



                                       2
<PAGE>   3

                                   SIGNATURES

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "Securities Act"), the Company certifies that it has reasonable grounds to
believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has
duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Irvine, State of
California, on this 1st day of September 1999.

                                   Interpore International, Inc., a Delaware
                                   corporation



                                   By:   /s/  DAVID C. MERCER
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                                  David C. Mercer
                                       Chairman and Chief Executive Officer


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

      Each person whose signature appears below hereby authorizes and appoints
David C. Mercer and Richard L. Harrison as attorneys-in-fact and agents, each
acting alone, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, to sign on his
behalf, individually and in the capacities stated below, and to file any and all
amendments, including post-effective amendments, to this Registration Statement
and other documents in connection therewith, with the Commission, granting to
said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to perform any other
act on behalf of the undersigned required to be done in the premises.

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration
statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities as of
September 1, 1999.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Signature                             Title
---------                             -----
<S>                                   <C>

/s/ DAVID C. MERCER                   Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive
--------------------------------      Officer and Director
David C. Mercer


/s/ JOSEPH A. MUSSEY                  President, Chief Operating Officer and
--------------------------------      Director
Joseph A. Mussey


/s/ RICHARD L. HARRISON               Senior Vice President-Finance, Chief
--------------------------------      Financial Officer and Secretary (Principal
Richard L. Harrison                   Financial and Accounting Officer)


/s/ WILLIAM A. EISENECHER             Director
--------------------------------
William A. Eisenecher


/s/ DANIEL A. FUNK, M.D.              Director
--------------------------------
Daniel A. Funk, M.D.


/s/ G. BRADFORD JONES                 Director
--------------------------------
G. Bradford Jones

/s/ ROBERT J. WILLIAMS                Director
--------------------------------
Robert J. Williams
</TABLE>



                                       3
<PAGE>   4

                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT                                                                   PAGE
-------                                                                   ----
<S>          <C>                                                        <C>

  4.1        Rights Agreement dated November 19, 1998 between           (Note 1)
             Interpore International, Inc. and U.S. Stock Transfer
             Corporation.

  5.1        Opinion of Latham & Watkins                                    5

 23.1        Consent of Latham & Watkins (included in Exhibit 5.1)          5

 23.2        Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors             6

 23.3        Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers L.L.P., Independent          7
             Accountants

 24          Power of Attorney (included in the signature page to           3
             this Registration Statement)
</TABLE>

----------

(1) Incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K dated December
1, 1998.



                                       4
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 11690}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "INTERPORE INTERNATIONAL /CA/", "cik": "0000854093", "assigned-sic": "3843", "irs-number": "953043318", "state-of-incorporation": "CA", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-86511", "film-number": "99706126"}, "business-address": {"street1": "181 TECHNOLOGY DR", "city": "IRVINE", "state": "CA", "zip": "92718", "phone": "7144533200"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "181 TECHNOLOGY DR", "city": "IRVINE", "state": "CA", "zip": "92718-"}}
1
    AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON SEPTEMBER 3, 1999
                                                    REGISTRATION NO. 333-_______
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                          ---------------------------

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                          ---------------------------

                          INTERPORE INTERNATIONAL, INC.
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

           DELAWARE                                          95-3043318
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF                           (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
 INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)                          IDENTIFICATION NUMBER)

                          ---------------------------

                              181 TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
                          IRVINE, CALIFORNIA 92618-2402
           (Address of Principal Executive Offices including Zip Code)

                          ---------------------------

               AMENDED AND RESTATED INTERPORE INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                     EMPLOYEE QUALIFIED STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

                            (FULL TITLE OF THE PLAN)

                          ---------------------------

          RICHARD L. HARRISON                           COPY TO:
   SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT - FINANCE,              CHARLES K. RUCK, ESQ.
     INTERPORE INTERNATIONAL, INC.                  LATHAM & WATKINS
         181 TECHNOLOGY DRIVE                    650 TOWN CENTER DRIVE,
     IRVINE, CALIFORNIA 92618-2402                  TWENTIETH  FLOOR
            (949) 453-3200                    COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA 92626
                                                     (714) 540-1235

                          ---------------------------

               (NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER,
                   INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       PROPOSED        PROPOSED
                                                       MAXIMUM          MAXIMUM
                                       AMOUNT          OFFERING        AGGREGATE     AMOUNT OF
                                       TO BE            PRICE          OFFERING    REGISTRATION
                                    REGISTERED(1)    PER SHARE(2)      PRICE(2)        FEE
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock, $.01 par value(3)    200,000 Shares      $6.71875       $1,343,750      $374
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1)  The Amended and Restated Interpore International, Inc. Employee Stock
     Qualified Plan (the "Plan") authorizes the issuance of a maximum of 300,000
     shares, 100,000 of which have already been registered pursuant to Form S-8
     Registration Statement No. 33-86454. Only the 200,000 newly authorized
     shares under the Plan are registered hereunder.

(2)  Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee
     pursuant to Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and
     is based on the average of the high and low sales price of the Common
     Stock, as reported on The Nasdaq Stock Market on August 31, 1999.

(3)  Each share of Common Stock being registered hereunder, if issued prior to
     the termination by the Company of its Rights Agreement, will include one
     Common Share Purchase Right. Prior to the occurrence of certain events, the
     Common Share Purchase Rights will not be exercisable or evidenced
     separately from the Common Stock.

PROPOSED SALE TO TAKE PLACE AS SOON AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE REGISTRATION
           STATEMENT AS OPTIONS GRANTED UNDER THE PLAN ARE EXERCISED.

================================================================================

                                  Total Pages 7
                             Exhibit Index on Page 4
2

                                     PART I

      The information called for in Part I of Form S-8 is not being prepared
with or included in this Form S-8 (by incorporation by reference or otherwise)
in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission").

                                     PART II

      This Registration Statement covers 200,000 additional shares of our Common
Stock reserved for issuance under the Amended and Restated Interpore
International, Inc. Employee Qualified Stock Purchase Plan (the "Plan"). Our
Board of Directors recently adopted, and our stockholders recently approved, an
amendment to the Plan which increased the number of shares reserved for issuance
thereunder from 100,000 to 300,000 shares. On November 16, 1994, we filed with
the Commission Form S-8 Registration Statement No. 33-86454 (the "Prior
Registration Statement") covering an aggregate of 100,000 shares issuable under
the Plan. Pursuant to General Instruction E of Form S-8, the contents of the
Prior Registration Statement are incorporated by reference herein to the extent
not modified or superseded thereby or by any subsequently filed document which
is incorporated by reference herein or therein.

ITEM 5. INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL

      The consolidated financial statements of Interpore International, Inc.
appearing in our Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the fiscal year ended December
31, 1998 have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, as set
forth in their report thereon included therein and incorporated herein by
reference. Such financial statements are, and audited financial statements to be
included in subsequently filed documents will be, incorporated herein in
reliance upon the reports of Ernst & Young LLP pertaining to such financial
statements (to the extent covered by consents filed with the Commission) given
on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

      The consolidated financial statements of Cross Medical Products, Inc. and
Subsidiaries (formerly Danninger Medical Technology, Inc. and Subsidiaries) for
the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997 have been audited by
PricewaterhouseCoopers L.L.P., independent accountants, as set forth in their
report thereon included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1998 and incorporated herein by reference. Such financial
statements and schedule are, and audited financials and schedules to be included
in subsequently filed documents will be, incorporated herein on reliance upon
the reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers L.L.P. pertaining to such financial
statements and schedule (to the extent covered by consents filed with the
Commission) given upon the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and
auditing.

ITEM 8. EXHIBITS

      See Index to Exhibits on page 4.

                                       2
3

                                   SIGNATURES

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "Securities Act"), the Company certifies that it has reasonable grounds to
believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has
duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Irvine, State of
California, on this 1st day of September 1999.

                                   Interpore International, Inc., a Delaware
                                   corporation

                                   By:   /s/  DAVID C. MERCER
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                                  David C. Mercer
                                       Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

      Each person whose signature appears below hereby authorizes and appoints
David C. Mercer and Richard L. Harrison as attorneys-in-fact and agents, each
acting alone, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, to sign on his
behalf, individually and in the capacities stated below, and to file any and all
amendments, including post-effective amendments, to this Registration Statement
and other documents in connection therewith, with the Commission, granting to
said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to perform any other
act on behalf of the undersigned required to be done in the premises.

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration
statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities as of
September 1, 1999.
Signature                             Title
---------                             -----
/s/ DAVID C. MERCER                   Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive
--------------------------------      Officer and Director
David C. Mercer

/s/ JOSEPH A. MUSSEY                  President, Chief Operating Officer and
--------------------------------      Director
Joseph A. Mussey

/s/ RICHARD L. HARRISON               Senior Vice President-Finance, Chief
--------------------------------      Financial Officer and Secretary (Principal
Richard L. Harrison                   Financial and Accounting Officer)

/s/ WILLIAM A. EISENECHER             Director
--------------------------------
William A. Eisenecher

/s/ DANIEL A. FUNK, M.D.              Director
--------------------------------
Daniel A. Funk, M.D.

/s/ G. BRADFORD JONES                 Director
--------------------------------
G. Bradford Jones

/s/ ROBERT J. WILLIAMS                Director
--------------------------------
Robert J. Williams
3
4

                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS
EXHIBIT                                                                   PAGE
-------                                                                   ----
4.1        Rights Agreement dated November 19, 1998 between           (Note 1)
             Interpore International, Inc. and U.S. Stock Transfer
             Corporation.

  5.1        Opinion of Latham & Watkins                                    5

 23.1        Consent of Latham & Watkins (included in Exhibit 5.1)          5

 23.2        Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors             6

 23.3        Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers L.L.P., Independent          7
             Accountants

 24          Power of Attorney (included in the signature page to           3
             this Registration Statement)
----------

(1) Incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K dated December
1, 1998.

                                       4