How do I choose a graft for a distal radius void?
Fracture repair at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, OH. Match the graft form to the void, not the shelf.
You are in the OR at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center with a distal radius fracture showing dorsal comminution and a void. You need a graft that fills the gap, stays around the plate and screws, and turns into new bone fast. Granules can scatter into the joint. Putty flows. Strips hold shape. Which one do you reach for?
A distal radius fracture with dorsal comminution leaves a hole where bone used to be. If you pack that hole with granules, the pieces can roll out of the defect and slip into the wrist joint. Loose granules irritate soft tissue and do not give new bone a stable bridge across the gap. The void needs a graft that matches its shape, not a pile of loose grains.
The graft choice adds little time to the case. A small, contained void may take 1 to 3 cc of flowable material. A larger, uncontained dorsal defect can take 5 to 10 cc of a moldable strip. Cost depends on the product and volume, but using the wrong form leads to wasted product and a second fill. The biggest cost driver is re-filling a void because the first graft moved.
Before your next distal radius case, match the form to the void. For a small, contained cavity, use a flowable graft in a syringe, like ACTIFUSE FLOW, and let it fill every corner. For a larger, uncontained dorsal defect, choose a moldable strip, like ACTIFUSE SHAPE, so it holds its form and does not migrate. If you need antibiotic delivery, ACTIFUSE ABX gives you the same handling plus the option to mix in powdered antibiotics. Avoid loose granules that can scatter into the joint. Elite Surgical can bring samples and the published data to your next value analysis review.
Pick the right form and the graft stays in the void. The plate and screws do their job without fighting loose particles. New bone has a path to cross the gap. At follow-up, the defect fills in and the wrist starts moving on schedule. You stop second-guessing the choice at the back table.
Other things people in Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center 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 Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and the area around it.