Which bone graft substitute works best for multilevel fusion?
If you're doing a multilevel spine fusion in Bon Secours Mercy Health, OH, the graft you pick can make all the difference.
You have a patient scheduled for a 3-level fusion at Bon Secours Mercy Health. Nonunion risk climbs with each additional level. You need a bone graft substitute that gives that long fusion bed the strongest possible start. The right choice can be the difference between a solid fusion and a painful revision.
Multilevel spine fusions fail more often than single-level ones. The longer the fusion, the more bone needs to fill in, and the more stress each segment sees. Using your patient's own hip bone can create a solid bridge, but it leaves a second wound that often causes lasting pain. Allograft alone relies heavily on the patient's healing ability. Smokers, diabetics, and older patients may not launch a strong enough bone response. A synthetic bone graft that actively promotes bone growth can help close that gap.
Graft costs and volumes vary. Autograft adds operating room time for the harvest, plus the price of managing donor site pain. BMP-2 is effective but costs several thousand dollars per level, and insurance may push back. Synthetic grafts like ACTIFUSE fall in the middle, often costing a few hundred dollars per cc. For a 3-level fusion, you may need 10 cc or more. A moldable form spreads evenly over the long fusion bed, so you use only what you need.
Before you finalize your graft choice, ask to see the clinical evidence in multilevel fusions. ACTIFUSE, a silicate-substituted calcium phosphate, has a 93% fusion rate across 694 patients in a Johns Hopkins review—the same as BMP-2—with less reported back pain and no hip graft. Elite Surgical can supply this graft, cover your cases, and train your OR team. Call us in Bon Secours Mercy Health to set up a quick in-service.
Your patient gets a stable construct with a graft that supports healing from post-op day one. Follow-up X-rays show solid bone formation across all three levels. No donor site pain from the hip. You chose the graft on hard data, not habit. That's a case you can feel good about.
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.
ACTIFUSE FLOW vs ACTIFUSE MIS
ACTIFUSE FLOW comes in a syringe for precise, low-pressure delivery into tight bony spaces. ACTIFUSE MIS is a purpose-built system for minimally invasive spine and orthopedic procedures, offering longer reach and controlled placement. If you are working through a small portal and need to fill a far corner, MIS gives you more control. For straightforward contained defects, FLOW is faster.
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Elite Surgical handles spine fusion in Bon Secours Mercy Health and the area around it.