How much does a bone graft substitute cost for an ankle fusion?
A clear answer from Elite Surgical, foot and ankle fusion in University Hospitals Cleveland, OH.
Maybe you're a surgeon at University Hospitals Cleveland, or a patient planning a tibiotalar fusion. The bone graft substitute cost is a real variable. You want to know how a synthetic graft like ACTIFUSE compares to harvesting your own bone, both in price and in OR time. You need a clear answer for your case.
When you schedule an ankle fusion at University Hospitals Cleveland, the bone graft substitute is a separate line item on the case cart. ACTIFUSE is a synthetic scaffold made of silicate-substituted calcium phosphate. Your body slowly replaces it with real bone over time. It avoids the need to harvest bone from your hip or heel. That means no second incision and no donor site pain. ACTIFUSE has published clinical experience in ankle fusion, including a 24-patient tibiotalar series.
A synthetic graft like ACTIFUSE often costs less than harvesting your own bone when you factor in extra OR time and donor site complications. Harvesting from the hip adds about 30 minutes of time and a separate incision. A donor site infection or chronic pain can add thousands in treatment costs. The actual price depends on the volume of graft you need. For a standard tibiotalar fusion, one or two syringes may be enough. Your supplier can give you a line-item quote for the exact product and volume.
Get a quote from your supplier. Ask for the specific product code and volume you need for the case. If you're at University Hospitals Cleveland, Elite Surgical can cover the case and provide the graft. They can also walk you through the published clinical data for ACTIFUSE in ankle fusion, including the 24-patient tibiotalar series. Call them to in-service your team and get a precise quote before your next fusion. This is not a brochure. This is a real number for your case.
Once you have the quote, the graft cost is a known number. You can plan the case budget with confidence. The fusion gets the scaffold it needs without a second surgery site. The patient recovers with less pain and no donor site complications. You have the answer you needed, and the case goes forward smoothly.
Other things people in University Hospitals Cleveland 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.
bone graft substitute for diabetic ankle fusion
Use a scaffold that remodels into real bone and can handle poor host biology. ACTIFUSE provides an 80% porous structure that the body replaces with living bone, without harvesting from the hip or heel. Published tibiotalar fusion series using this graft show reliable outcomes in compromised patients.
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 University Hospitals Cleveland and the area around it.