Bone graft moved after your spine fusion?
What graft migration means for your fusion, and what to do next — from Elite Surgical in University Hospitals Cleveland, OH.
You had a posterolateral spine fusion at University Hospitals Cleveland with a synthetic bone graft. Your post-op CT now shows that some graft substitute has moved away from the fusion bed. You're trying to figure out if the fusion will still take and if you need another procedure.
What you're seeing on the scan is graft migration. With synthetic bone graft substitutes like ACTIFUSE, it is common for a small amount of material to shift as the body remodels the area. These grafts are putty-like when placed and the particles can settle. This does not usually stop the fusion. In a study of 694 patients, ACTIFUSE achieved a 93% fusion rate, matching BMP-2, without needing bone from the hip.
If the migration is minor and you have no new nerve symptoms, your surgeon will likely just monitor the fusion on your next scheduled CT. No extra surgery or cost. If the graft has moved far or is touching a nerve, a revision may be needed. The scope of a revision depends on the location and amount of graft, and your surgeon will explain what that involves and what it may cost.
This week, schedule a follow-up at your University Hospitals Cleveland surgeon's office. Ask to review the CT together and check if any graft is near the spinal nerves. Tell them right away if you feel new leg pain, numbness, or weakness. If you are symptom-free and most of the graft is in place, continue with planned monitoring. If you want more details about the graft material, Elite Surgical can provide clinical evidence to your surgeon to help guide the next steps.
When your surgeon confirms the fusion is taking and no nerves are being compressed, you can focus on your recovery. The slight graft movement will not affect your long-term outcome. You will follow your rehab plan and get future scans as scheduled, knowing the graft is supporting new bone growth.
Other things people in University Hospitals Cleveland ask
bone graft harvest site pain alternatives
Stop harvesting from the iliac crest. A synthetic bone graft substitute like ACTIFUSE removes the second surgical site entirely. No harvest means no donor site pain, no extra scar, and one less thing to manage post-op. The fusion rates are the same without the extra morbidity.
bone graft substitute for smokers spine fusion
Look for a synthetic graft with published fusion data in high-risk patients. ACTIFUSE has a 93% fusion rate in an independent spine study, comparable to BMP-2, without the need to harvest hip bone. Discuss smoking cessation, but choose a graft that has shown strong results even when patient compliance is imperfect.
cost of bone graft substitute per level spine fusion
Calculate the all-in cost: graft price, OR time for harvest, donor site pain management, and readmissions for nonunion. A synthetic graft like ACTIFUSE often costs more up front but eliminates harvest-related expenses. Ask your rep for a cost-per-fusion analysis that includes complication avoidance.
best bone graft substitute for multilevel spine fusion
Look for a graft with clinical data in multilevel fusions. A synthetic graft with a high published fusion rate, like ACTIFUSE (93% in a large series), can be a strong choice. Avoid grafts that rely on the patient's own bone growth factors if the patient is a smoker or has poor biology. Consider a moldable form to cover the long fusion bed evenly.
ACTIFUSE FLOW vs ACTIFUSE MIS
ACTIFUSE FLOW comes in a syringe for precise, low-pressure delivery into tight bony spaces. ACTIFUSE MIS is a purpose-built system for minimally invasive spine and orthopedic procedures, offering longer reach and controlled placement. If you are working through a small portal and need to fill a far corner, MIS gives you more control. For straightforward contained defects, FLOW is faster.
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Elite Surgical handles spine fusion in University Hospitals Cleveland and the area around it.