Bone graft substitute for diabetic ankle fusion?
Honest answers from Elite Surgical: bone graft for diabetic ankle fusion at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, OH.
Your patient has diabetes and a Charcot deformity. The ankle must be fused, but poor bone quality raises the risk of nonunion. At Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, you need a bone graft substitute that your patient's body can turn into living bone, without the added pain of harvesting from the hip.
Fusing a diabetic ankle with Charcot deformity is not routine. The host bone is often poor, vascularity is compromised, and the risk of nonunion is higher than in healthy patients. Taking autograft from the hip or heel adds a second surgical site with its own pain, infection risk, and longer recovery. You need a graft material that actively recruits the body's own cells and remodels into living bone, not just a filler.
ACTIFUSE is not a simple calcium phosphate. It releases silicate that stimulates bone formation and provides an 80% porous structure your patient's cells can colonize. The cost of the graft itself is straightforward. Your Elite Surgical representative can provide pricing for Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. The real value is avoiding the time, complications, and OR costs of harvesting bone. One or two syringes usually cover a tibiotalar fusion. Published data in 24 tibiotalar fusions using this silicate-substituted calcium phosphate showed reliable fusion in patients with multiple risk factors.
Your next step is to review the evidence. Ask your Elite Surgical representative for the published series on tibiotalar fusion with SiCaP. We can schedule a lunch-and-learn or an in-service for your team at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Our clinical specialists will be in the OR with you for your first case to ensure the graft is handled correctly. Do not wait until the next difficult Charcot ankle is on your schedule. Get comfortable with the graft now.
Once this graft is part of your practice, diabetic ankle fusions become less stressful. You choose a material you know will integrate, not just sit there. Your patients avoid a painful donor site. The ankle heals with real bone, and your nonunion rate drops. You have a reliable answer for the patients who need it most.
Other things people in Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center ask
bone graft substitute not remodeling
Not all synthetics remodel at the same rate. A graft with a highly porous, interconnected scaffold, like ACTIFUSE or ALTAPORE, is built to be replaced by host bone over time. Check your graft's resorption profile. If you need predictable remodeling, choose one with published fusion data for foot and ankle.
weight bearing after ankle fusion with synthetic bone graft
Weight bearing depends on fixation stability, not just the graft. With ACTIFUSE, the scaffold starts remodeling within weeks, but full load is typically allowed after 6-8 weeks if the construct is solid. Check your specific fixation and follow published protocols for tibiotalar fusion with this graft.
ACTIFUSE FLOW vs ACTIFUSE SHAPE ankle fusion
FLOW is ideal for narrow, irregular spaces because the syringe lets you inject it precisely. SHAPE is better when you need to pack a larger void and want the graft to stay in place without migrating. For a typical ankle fusion with moderate bone loss, either can work. Choose FLOW if you need to fill a tight gap; choose SHAPE if you need to build up a defect and contour it.
cost of bone graft substitute for ankle fusion
The price depends on the volume of graft needed and the specific product. For a standard ankle fusion, a synthetic graft like ACTIFUSE typically costs less than using a bone graft harvested from the patient when you factor in OR time and donor site complications. Get a quote from your supplier for the exact product and volume.
normal shoes after ankle fusion synthetic bone graft
Most patients can transition to a supportive shoe around 10 to 12 weeks after surgery, once X-rays show the fusion is solid. Synthetic grafts like ACTIFUSE remodel into real bone, so the timeline is similar to autograft. Always confirm healing on imaging before clearing the patient.
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Elite Surgical handles foot & ankle fusion in Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and the area around it.