Large bone void in your tibial plateau fracture?
Fracture repair graft options for large defects. University Hospitals Cleveland, OH.
You reduced the tibial plateau fracture. The void left behind is bigger than expected. You need a graft that won't let that joint surface settle. At University Hospitals Cleveland, you see these high-energy injuries often. You need a graft that packs into the irregular void and resists compression. The articular surface depends on it.
A tibial plateau fracture often leaves a large subchondral void after elevation. The crushed bone creates a gap under the joint surface. Without a graft that fills completely and resists load, the surface can collapse. That leads to post-traumatic arthritis and a poor outcome.
Graft choice depends on defect size and shape. For large, irregular voids, a moldable, high-porosity graft like ALTAPORE SHAPE packs in and stays put. For smaller subchondral gaps, a flowable graft delivered by syringe leaves no dead space. Cost varies with graft volume, but a synthetic graft avoids autograft harvest morbidity and the high cost of allograft or BMP-2. Your value analysis team will look at total episode cost.
Before your next tibial plateau ORIF, talk to Elite Surgical. We bring samples, clinical data, and in-service your team. We help you pick the graft that fits the defect and your fixation. Call ahead to have the right graft on your shelf.
The graft is packed solid after surgery. The articular surface stays supported. Your patient heals with a stable joint. You avoid a second surgery and a lifetime of arthritis.
Other things people in University Hospitals Cleveland 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 University Hospitals Cleveland and the area around it.