Weight bearing after tibial plateau fracture with synthetic graft?
A plain answer for fracture repair in Allegheny Health Network, PA. The graft is not the part that holds weight.
You're in an Allegheny Health Network operating room, closing a tibial plateau case. The plate and screws are in. The void is packed with a synthetic graft. The patient's first question is when they can put weight on that leg. You need a protocol that separates graft biology from hardware mechanics.
A patient with a tibial plateau fracture asks the same question after surgery: when can I walk on it? The synthetic graft packed into the void is a scaffold for new bone. It does not add immediate structural support. The plate and screws hold the joint surface while the bone heals. Weight bearing depends on that fixation, not on the graft material. Early loading will not make the graft turn into bone faster.
Plan on the usual tibial plateau recovery. Most patients are non-weight-bearing for 8 to 12 weeks. X-rays at 6 and 12 weeks show whether the bone is bridging. The synthetic graft remodels over that same window. It does not add a separate step or a separate bill to the protocol. The things that stretch the timeline are comminution, soft tissue injury, smoking, and diabetes. Those matter more than the graft.
This week, tell the patient the weight-bearing answer. It depends on the plate and screws, not the graft. Keep the standard postoperative protocol. Most patients stay non-weight-bearing for 8 to 12 weeks. Do not start weight bearing because the patient feels good. Advance only after X-ray shows callus. If you need a graft-specific reference for your note or your team, call Elite Surgical. They can bring the clinical data to your next OR case in Allegheny Health Network.
Once healing is confirmed at 8 to 12 weeks, the patient starts partial weight bearing and progresses over a few weeks. The synthetic graft has been replaced by living bone at the fracture edges. The hardware is stable. The patient is walking without a walker by 12 to 16 weeks in most cases. You have a clear answer for the next patient with the same question.
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.
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.
ACTIFUSE FLOW vs ACTIFUSE SHAPE fracture
For narrow, deep voids where you need the graft to flow into crevices, use ACTIFUSE FLOW. Its syringe delivery lets you place it precisely without overpacking. For a wide, shallow defect that needs to hold its shape while you close, ACTIFUSE SHAPE molds to the cavity and stays in place. If the void is both deep and wide, start with FLOW to fill the bottom, then cap it with SHAPE.
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Elite Surgical handles fracture repair in Allegheny Health Network and the area around it.