How to choose a bone graft substitute for distal radius fracture
Fracture repair in Cincinnati Children’s, OH: match graft form to the void shape, not the hardware.
You’re in Cincinnati Children’s, OH, fixing a distal radius fracture with a dorsal comminution and a void. You need a graft that fills the gap, stays in place, and remodels without fighting your hardware. Granules can scatter, and putty and moldable strips behave differently, so you’re deciding which form to pick today.
A distal radius fracture with dorsal comminution often leaves a void after you reduce the fragments. That gap is where new bone must cross. If the graft form is wrong, it can move into the joint or block your plate. Granules tend to scatter into the joint space. A flowable graft fills small, contained cavities. A moldable strip holds its shape in a larger, uncontained defect. Pick the form that matches the void. That is why the form matters as much as the material.
Graft choice depends on the void, not the price tag. Bone graft pricing scales with volume, not complexity. A small contained cavity may need only a few cc from a flowable syringe. A larger uncontained defect often needs a moldable strip. That costs more per case but saves a second trip back to the OR. The real cost is the time you lose if the graft migrates. Your rep can quote by syringe or strip once the void size is known.
This week, check the void after you place your fixation. If it is small and contained, use a flowable graft like ACTIFUSE FLOW from the syringe. If the defect is larger or uncontained, mold ACTIFUSE SHAPE against the wall so it does not migrate. If infection risk is present, ask for ACTIFUSE ABX. Do not reach for loose granules here. They can end up in the joint. Call Elite Surgical for case support at Cincinnati Children’s to bring samples and the published data to your case.
Once the graft form matches the void, you stop second-guessing. The graft stays put, remodels on schedule, and your plate and screws sit clean. The patient starts motion without loose granules in the joint. Follow-up films show new bone crossing the gap. You close the case and move to the next fracture.
Other things people in Cincinnati Children’s 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.
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 Cincinnati Children’s and the area around it.