ACTIFUSE FLOW vs ACTIFUSE SHAPE: which fills the void?
Fracture repair in Allegheny Health Network, PA: choosing the right graft for the void.
You are in an Allegheny Health Network OR, looking at a distal radius fracture with a metaphyseal void. ACTIFUSE FLOW is in a syringe. ACTIFUSE SHAPE is on the shelf. The void is narrow and deep in places, wide and shallow in others. You need the graft to fill the defect and stay where you put it.
Fractures often leave a gap in the bone after reduction. That void can stall healing if it is not filled. ACTIFUSE FLOW comes in a syringe and reaches into narrow spaces. ACTIFUSE SHAPE is a moldable block that holds its form once placed. The right choice depends on the shape of your defect and how you need to deliver the graft. In Allegheny Health Network fracture cases, this decision comes up most often with distal radius and tibial plateau voids.
Graft volume depends on the case. A distal radius metaphyseal void may need 2 to 5 cc. A larger tibial plateau defect can need 10 cc or more. FLOW adds a few seconds of syringe prep. SHAPE takes a quick hand mold. Both work with your existing fixation. The form you choose does not change the graft's chemistry, only its handling. Ask for case-specific pricing rather than guessing from a catalog. Both forms are silicate-substituted calcium phosphate. That chemistry supports bone growth, but handling differs.
For a narrow, deep void, use ACTIFUSE FLOW. The syringe lets you place graft into crevices without overpacking. If the defect is wide and shallow, use ACTIFUSE SHAPE. Molding it to the cavity keeps it in place while you close. If the void is both deep and wide, fill the bottom with FLOW, then cap it with SHAPE. Do not use SHAPE alone in a tight canal. Contact Elite Surgical for an OR in-service or product samples before your next Allegheny Health Network fracture case. If unsure, bring both. The decision takes seconds once exposed.
Once the void is filled, there is no dead space. New bone has a continuous path across the fracture. The fixation holds while the graft remodels. You close knowing the defect was handled with the right material for its shape. No dead space means no place for a nonunion to start. The patient leaves with a clear path for healing.
Other things people in Allegheny Health Network ask
bone graft for large tibial plateau defect
Pick a graft that resists compression and supports the articular surface. A moldable, high-porosity graft like ALTAPORE SHAPE packs into irregular voids and stays put. For smaller subchondral gaps, a flowable graft delivered by syringe gives complete fill without leaving dead space. Always use it with rigid internal fixation; the graft is not load-bearing on its own.
weight bearing after tibial plateau fracture with synthetic bone graft
Weight bearing depends on the fixation, not the graft. The graft provides a scaffold for bone ingrowth but does not add immediate structural support. Follow your standard postoperative protocol for the plate and screws. Most patients stay non-weight-bearing for 8 to 12 weeks, with progression based on X-ray healing. The graft will remodel over that time; early loading does not speed it up.
how to choose bone graft substitute for distal radius fracture
Match the graft form to the void shape. For a small, contained cavity, a flowable graft in a syringe (like ACTIFUSE FLOW) fills every corner without overpacking. For a larger, uncontained defect, a moldable graft (like ACTIFUSE SHAPE) holds its form and does not migrate. If you need antibiotic delivery, ACTIFUSE ABX gives you enhanced handling plus the option to mix in powdered antibiotics. Avoid granules that can scatter into the joint.
cost of bone graft substitute for calcaneus fracture
Calcaneus fractures often need 5cc to 10cc of graft. Price it by volume, not by level. Synthetic grafts like ACTIFUSE are priced per cc. Ask your rep for a per-case cost breakdown that includes the delivery system. Compare that to the cost of a second surgery if the void is left unfilled or collapses.
synthetic bone graft safe open fracture
Synthetic grafts like ACTIFUSE are inorganic and do not provide a food source for bacteria the way allograft can. They can be used in a contaminated field after thorough debridement and irrigation. Many surgeons place the graft at the index procedure to maintain space and deliver local antibiotics mixed into the graft. If there is gross purulence, stage the grafting for a second look 48 to 72 hours later.
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Elite Surgical handles fracture repair in Allegheny Health Network and the area around it.