Which bone graft substitute is right for your spine fusion?
If you're a spine surgeon in Allegheny Health Network, PA, Elite Surgical can help you navigate bone graft substitutes.
You’re a spine surgeon at Allegheny Health Network. You’re switching from autograft to synthetic bone graft substitutes. The catalog has dozens of options. Your rep says one is bioactive, another says resorbable, a third claims high porosity. You need a way to cut through the noise and pick the right graft for your fusion cases.
Bone graft substitutes all claim to support fusion. Look past the claims. A graft needs interconnected pores over 75% so new bone can grow through it. Silicate substitution makes the material bioactive. It bonds to bone faster. Published fusion data matters more than a rep’s pitch. And the graft must fit your approach: a flowable syringe for minimally invasive TLIF, or a moldable strip for open PLIF.
Evaluating grafts takes time. You’ll need to compare porosity, bioactivity, and fusion data from published studies. Plan to spend a few weeks reviewing options and maybe run a small trial. Your hospital’s value analysis committee will ask about cost per successful fusion. Elite Surgical can supply the clinical evidence and in-service your team, but the final choice depends on your surgical needs.
This week, get samples of ACTIFUSE and ALTAPORE in the delivery format you use most: syringe, strip, or moldable. Try them in a sawbones lab. Ask Elite Surgical for the published fusion data on silicate-substituted grafts. Compare at least two products side by side. Don’t decide based on one rep’s pitch. You need to feel how the graft handles and see its porosity under your own scope.
Once you’ve chosen a graft with proven porosity and bioactivity, your fusion cases run smoother. You have a consistent product that handles the way you expect. Your hospital’s value analysis committee has the data it needs. And you’re no longer relying on autograft with its donor site pain. You’ve moved to a synthetic option that works.
Other things people in Allegheny Health Network ask
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.
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.
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.
bone graft substitute syringe clogging
Clogging usually means the particle size is wrong for the delivery system or the material is too thick. ACTIFUSE FLOW is specifically designed for syringe delivery with consistent particle size. ACTIFUSE MIS offers minimally invasive delivery without clogging issues.
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.