Bone graft substitute clogging in your delivery syringe?
Medical equipment supplier for Allegheny Health Network surgical teams. Here is what clogging means and what fixes it.
You are in an Allegheny Health Network OR, maybe at Allegheny General or West Penn. The bone graft syringe will not push. You stop to clear the tip. The material balls up instead of flowing into the site. Every minute lost adds pressure to the case.
Clogging usually means the graft particles are too large for the cannula, or the carrier is too thick. In an MIS case, you have a narrow delivery path. If the particle size varies, clumps form at the tip. You see flow stop, then a hard push, then a mess. Many allograft and calcium phosphate products are not sized for smooth syringe delivery. That mismatch causes the backup you are dealing with in your Allegheny Health Network cases.
Clearing a clogged syringe mid-case can add 10 to 20 minutes to a procedure. That time has real cost in a busy Allegheny Health Network OR. The graft itself may be wasted if you switch to a new kit. Total added cost varies by product and case volume, but repeated clogs across a month add up fast. The fix is not more pressure. It is a delivery system matched to the material and the cannula you actually use.
Stop trying to force the current graft through a smaller cannula. Ask your rep for a sample of ACTIFUSE FLOW or ACTIFUSE MIS. These products are sized for syringe delivery with consistent particles. Elite Surgical covers cases in Allegheny Health Network hospitals and can bring both options to your next spine or orthopedic procedure. Request an in-service this week. Have your value analysis committee see the published data before the next graft review.
A smooth flow through the delivery system means no mid-case stops. The bone graft substitute reaches the site without clogging. You close on schedule and move to the next patient. OR staff do not have to clear tips or waste kits. That is the outcome a properly matched graft system gives you in Allegheny Health Network.
Other things people in Allegheny Health Network ask
bone graft substitute not integrating
Poor integration often comes from low porosity or inadequate bioactivity in the graft material. Switch to a silicate-substituted calcium phosphate with 80%+ porosity like ACTIFUSE or ALTAPORE. The enhanced porosity allows better bone ingrowth and vascularization.
autograft vs synthetic bone graft substitute
Modern synthetic bone graft substitutes like ACTIFUSE and ALTAPORE show fusion rates comparable to autograft without donor site morbidity. Synthetics eliminate harvest time and reduce patient pain. Consider synthetic for single-level fusions, combine with autograft for complex cases.
consistent bone graft substitute results
Consistent results need consistent material quality and technique. Use bone graft substitutes with proven fusion rates like ALTAPORE's 86.3% rate. Ensure proper hydration, avoid overpacking, and maintain sterile handling. Elite Surgical provides technique guides for optimal results.
how to choose bone graft substitute spine fusion
Look for porosity above 75%, silicate substitution for bioactivity, and clinical fusion rate data. Check delivery options for your approach - syringe for MIS, moldable for open procedures. Elite Surgical offers multiple ACTIFUSE and ALTAPORE formats for different surgical needs.
when to use bone graft substitute vs allograft
Use synthetic bone graft substitutes like ACTIFUSE when you want consistent quality without disease transmission risk. Allograft works for structural support in large defects. Synthetics are better for biological fusion enhancement in routine cases.
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Elite Surgical handles medical equipment supplier in Allegheny Health Network and the area around it.