Is synthetic bone graft safe in an open fracture with contamination?
Synthetic bone graft for fracture repair: what Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center patients should know.
You are at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center with a grade II open tibia fracture. The wound was contaminated and there is bone loss. You need the defect filled but worry placing a synthetic graft like ACTIFUSE right away will raise the infection risk.
Open fractures with contamination have a higher infection risk. When bone is missing, the gap needs a scaffold for new bone to grow across. Donor bone allograft contains organic material that can feed bacteria. Synthetic grafts like ACTIFUSE are inorganic. They do not give bacteria a food source. After thorough debridement and irrigation, many surgeons place the graft at the first surgery.
Using the graft during the initial procedure often means you avoid a second trip to the operating room. If the wound has gross pus, your surgeon may stage the grafting 48 to 72 hours later. That adds a second surgery but keeps infection risk very low. The overall recovery time stays similar.
Ask your Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center surgeon about placing ACTIFUSE at the index procedure. Many trauma teams mix the graft with local antibiotics for extra protection. Elite Surgical can supply ACTIFUSE and the clinical data your team needs to evaluate it. If you are the surgeon, call us to have the graft ready for your next trauma case.
Once the graft fills the defect and the hardware is in place, the synthetic scaffold supports new bone. Over weeks your body remodels it into your own bone. You heal without a persistent void and get back to walking sooner.
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.
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.
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.