Large bone void in your tibial plateau fracture?
What to use when the defect is big and the joint surface must not collapse. Fracture repair support for surgeons at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
You are fixing a tibial plateau fracture at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. After elevation, the defect is bigger than expected. You need something that fills the gap and keeps the joint surface from collapsing.
A tibial plateau fracture often leaves a void after the bone is lifted back into place. The defect can be irregular and deep. Without a graft that resists compression, the joint surface can sink over time. That leads to pain, instability, and early arthritis. You need a material that fills every corner and holds its shape under load.
The choice of graft depends on the defect size and the fixation you use. A moldable, high-porosity graft packs into irregular voids and stays put. For smaller subchondral gaps, a flowable graft delivered by syringe gives complete fill. The cost varies with the volume of graft needed. Using a synthetic graft avoids a second surgical site and the morbidity of autograft harvest.
This week, when you have a tibial plateau case with a large void, ask for ALTAPORE SHAPE. It is a moldable, silicate-substituted calcium phosphate graft that packs into the defect and resists compression. For smaller gaps under the joint surface, ALTAPORE FLOW gives a complete fill without leaving dead space. Elite Surgical can bring samples to your OR at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and walk your team through the technique.
After the graft is packed and the plate is on, the void is gone. The joint surface has a stable foundation. Your patient can start early motion without fear of collapse. The graft remodels into bone over time, leaving a healed fracture and a preserved joint.
Other things people in Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center ask
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.
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.