ACTIFUSE FLOW vs ACTIFUSE SHAPE: Which one for this void?
A straight answer for IU Health surgeons filling fracture defects in the OR.
You are in an IU Health OR. The distal radius is reduced and plated. Now you see the metaphyseal void. ACTIFUSE FLOW and SHAPE are both on your back table. You need to fill that gap right now, but you are not sure which graft gives you better handling and fill for this specific defect.
FLOW and SHAPE are the same material. The difference is how they go into the void. FLOW comes in a syringe. It is a putty that moves like toothpaste. You can push it into narrow, deep spaces. It fills crevices without leaving air pockets. SHAPE is a moldable block. You can press it into a wide, shallow cavity. It stays where you put it while you close.
Both grafts cost about the same per cc. The real difference is time. FLOW saves you packing steps in a tight hole. SHAPE saves you waiting for material to settle in a broad defect. Using the wrong one can add minutes to your case or leave a fill that is not complete. Your Elite Surgical rep can bring both to the case so you are never stuck.
Next time you have a void, look at the shape first. If it is deep and narrow, grab the FLOW syringe. If it is wide and shallow, take the SHAPE block. If the void is both, start with FLOW to fill the bottom, then cap it with SHAPE. Call your Elite Surgical rep the day before. Tell them the fracture pattern. They will make sure the right graft is in your tray.
Once the graft is in, the void is filled. New bone has a path to grow across the gap. Your fixation stays stable. You close knowing the scaffold is working.
Other things people in IU Health 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 IU Health and the area around it.