Bone graft substitute syringe keeps clogging mid-procedure
Straight answers from Elite Surgical, medical equipment supplier for IU Health in Indianapolis, IN.
You are in the middle of an MIS spine case at IU Health Methodist or Saxony and the delivery syringe jams. The graft material will not flow. You lose minutes clearing the tip while the team waits. It happens because the particle size is inconsistent or the carrier is too thick for the cannula.
Clogging starts with the bone graft substitute itself. Many products use a mix of particle sizes that pack unevenly inside the syringe barrel. When you apply pressure, the smaller fragments wedge against larger ones and block the opening. Or the hydration ratio is off, making the paste too stiff to push through a narrow delivery tip. In a minimally invasive procedure, that extra resistance stops the case cold.
Fixing this does not have to cost extra OR time or wasted product. The real cost is the clog itself, repeated interruptions, and sometimes opening a second kit. A graft designed for syringe delivery avoids that waste. The price of the graft is only part of the equation. A reliable flow means one kit, one case, no delays.
Call Elite Surgical before your next MIS list. Ask for an in-service on ACTIFUSE FLOW. Its consistent particle size and optimized carrier keep the material moving through the syringe without bridging or blockages. For MIS cases, ACTIFUSE MIS uses a flexible delivery system that eliminates the clogging points you are fighting now. We will cover your case and make sure your team sees how the material handles in their own hands.
Once the right graft is in the room, the syringe advances smoothly on the first pass. The graft fills the defect without fighting back. The clock stays on your side and you close without the frustration of a stalled delivery.
Other things people in IU Health ask
bone graft substitute not integrating
Poor integration often comes from low porosity or inadequate bioactivity in the graft material. Switch to a silicate-substituted calcium phosphate with 80%+ porosity like ACTIFUSE or ALTAPORE. The enhanced porosity allows better bone ingrowth and vascularization.
autograft vs synthetic bone graft substitute
Modern synthetic bone graft substitutes like ACTIFUSE and ALTAPORE show fusion rates comparable to autograft without donor site morbidity. Synthetics eliminate harvest time and reduce patient pain. Consider synthetic for single-level fusions, combine with autograft for complex cases.
consistent bone graft substitute results
Consistent results need consistent material quality and technique. Use bone graft substitutes with proven fusion rates like ALTAPORE's 86.3% rate. Ensure proper hydration, avoid overpacking, and maintain sterile handling. Elite Surgical provides technique guides for optimal results.
how to choose bone graft substitute spine fusion
Look for porosity above 75%, silicate substitution for bioactivity, and clinical fusion rate data. Check delivery options for your approach - syringe for MIS, moldable for open procedures. Elite Surgical offers multiple ACTIFUSE and ALTAPORE formats for different surgical needs.
when to use bone graft substitute vs allograft
Use synthetic bone graft substitutes like ACTIFUSE when you want consistent quality without disease transmission risk. Allograft works for structural support in large defects. Synthetics are better for biological fusion enhancement in routine cases.
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Elite Surgical handles medical equipment supplier in IU Health and the area around it.