ACTIFUSE FLOW vs ACTIFUSE MIS for your MIS spine fusion?
Honest answers on ACTIFUSE FLOW vs ACTIFUSE MIS for spine fusion in Bon Secours Mercy Health, OH.
You are scheduled for an MIS TLIF at Bon Secours Mercy Health. The portal is tight, and the graft must move through a narrow cannula without clogging. You do not know if the ACTIFUSE FLOW syringe or the ACTIFUSE MIS delivery system gives you enough reach and control. Both use the same graft chemistry, but the delivery tools differ.
Both ACTIFUSE FLOW and ACTIFUSE MIS carry the same silicate-substituted calcium phosphate graft. The difference is the delivery tool. FLOW is a syringe made for precise, low-pressure placement into small, contained bony defects. MIS is built for minimally invasive spine and orthopedic work. It has a longer cannula and a controlled extrusion mechanism. In a narrow MIS TLIF portal, the risk is clogging if you use the wrong tool. The defect type and reach decide which one fits.
Cost is per graft unit, not per level, so a straightforward contained defect in a one-level MIS TLIF usually takes less. A far corner or a multilevel construct takes more. The MIS system adds a little length and control, but the graft material cost is the same as FLOW. In Bon Secours Mercy Health, your rep can show both devices side by side in the OR before the case starts. There is no reason to stock both if you can try them first.
This week, have Elite Surgical bring both delivery systems to your next MIS spine case at Bon Secours Mercy Health. Ask for a side-by-side on the back table. Do not guess based on the catalog. If you need to reach a far corner through a small portal, the MIS system gives more control. If the space is contained and easy to reach, FLOW is faster. Pick the tool that matches the defect.
Once the right delivery system is in your hand, the graft moves through the cannula without clogging. You get controlled placement and less wasted material. The fusion evidence stays the same: 93 percent fusion in a 694-patient independent review. No bone harvested from the hip. You finish the case, close, and move on.
Other things people in Bon Secours Mercy Health ask
bone graft harvest site pain alternatives
Stop harvesting from the iliac crest. A synthetic bone graft substitute like ACTIFUSE removes the second surgical site entirely. No harvest means no donor site pain, no extra scar, and one less thing to manage post-op. The fusion rates are the same without the extra morbidity.
bone graft substitute for smokers spine fusion
Look for a synthetic graft with published fusion data in high-risk patients. ACTIFUSE has a 93% fusion rate in an independent spine study, comparable to BMP-2, without the need to harvest hip bone. Discuss smoking cessation, but choose a graft that has shown strong results even when patient compliance is imperfect.
cost of bone graft substitute per level spine fusion
Calculate the all-in cost: graft price, OR time for harvest, donor site pain management, and readmissions for nonunion. A synthetic graft like ACTIFUSE often costs more up front but eliminates harvest-related expenses. Ask your rep for a cost-per-fusion analysis that includes complication avoidance.
bone graft substitute migration spine fusion
Small amounts of graft migration outside the intended area are common and often do not harm the fusion. If the graft is far from the fusion site or compressing a nerve, revision may be needed. Check the CT carefully for any contact with neural structures. If there are no symptoms and the bulk of graft is in place, monitor the fusion progress on the next scan.
best bone graft substitute for multilevel spine fusion
Look for a graft with clinical data in multilevel fusions. A synthetic graft with a high published fusion rate, like ACTIFUSE (93% in a large series), can be a strong choice. Avoid grafts that rely on the patient's own bone growth factors if the patient is a smoker or has poor biology. Consider a moldable form to cover the long fusion bed evenly.
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Elite Surgical handles spine fusion in Bon Secours Mercy Health and the area around it.