Large bone void in tibial plateau fracture?
A moldable graft that stays put. Fracture repair insights for Cincinnati Children’s, OH.
You reduced a tibial plateau fracture in Cincinnati Children’s. The void after elevation is larger than expected. You need to fill it so the joint surface does not collapse under weight-bearing. The right graft choice makes the difference between a smooth recovery and a joint that sinks.
When a tibial plateau fracture displaces, the bone beneath the joint surface often crumbles. After you elevate the depressed fragment, a significant void remains. If you leave it empty, the hardware bears all the load, and the joint surface can settle. That leads to pain, stiffness, and early arthritis. A bone graft substitute fills that gap, giving new bone a scaffold to grow across while the fixation holds everything in place.
Bone graft costs vary by volume, type, and hospital contracts. A moldable, high-porosity graft typically runs several hundred to a few thousand dollars per case, depending on the defect size and amount needed. Flowable grafts for small subchondral gaps are priced similarly. Your rep can provide exact numbers based on your facility's agreement. The graft itself is not load-bearing; rigid internal fixation is still required.
Before your next tibial plateau case, talk to Elite Surgical. Ask for a graft that resists compression and packs into irregular voids. ALTAPORE SHAPE is moldable and stays put after placement. For smaller, hard-to-reach defects, a flowable option like ACTIFUSE delivered by syringe ensures complete fill without dead space. Always pair it with stable fixation. Call to have a rep walk you through the published data and in-service your team.
After surgery, the void is filled. The graft provides a scaffold for bone ingrowth while the plate and screws maintain alignment. Your patient begins protected weight-bearing as planned, with less worry about joint collapse. Follow-up images show bone filling the defect, and the articular surface stays where you put it.
Other things people in Cincinnati Children’s 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 Cincinnati Children’s and the area around it.