Is synthetic bone graft safe in a contaminated open fracture?
Honest answers from Elite Surgical, fracture repair in University Hospitals Cleveland, OH.
You’re treating a grade II open tibia fracture with bone loss at University Hospitals Cleveland. You need to fill the defect, but you’re worried that putting a graft into a contaminated wound will invite infection. You want to know if synthetic graft is safe to pack in right now, or if you should stage the grafting.
An open fracture lets bacteria into the wound. Donor bone can feed those bacteria, making infection more likely. ACTIFUSE is a synthetic calcium phosphate graft. It has no organic matter, so it does not give bacteria a food source. After a thorough washout, it can be placed safely in a contaminated field.
Using a synthetic graft adds a predictable cost to your case—typically a few hundred dollars per 5cc, depending on the defect volume. Hospital billing codes for fracture repair usually cover it. The real savings come from avoiding a second hospital visit: one surgery instead of two means less OR time, fewer risks, and a shorter overall recovery for your patient.
Before your next case, call Elite Surgical. We cover University Hospitals Cleveland, and can support you with ACTIFUSE in the OR. We’ll bring the published data, in-service your team, and show you how to mix antibiotics into the graft. Do not wait to fill the defect if the wound is clean—delaying lets the gap collapse.
Once the graft is in, your fixation holds the bone steady, and the scaffold invites new bone to grow across the gap. You avoided a higher infection risk and gave your patient a single recovery path. No second procedure, no empty space left behind.
Other things people in University Hospitals Cleveland 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 University Hospitals Cleveland and the area around it.