Is a synthetic bone graft safe in an open fracture with contamination?
Straight answers for fracture repair surgeons in Cincinnati Children’s, OH.
You're treating a grade II open tibia at Cincinnati Children’s. There's bone loss and the wound is contaminated. You want to use a synthetic graft to fill the gap, but you worry that placing it now will cause an infection.
Open fractures with contamination raise infection concerns. Synthetic bone grafts, like ACTIFUSE, are made of silicate-substituted calcium phosphate. They are inorganic, so bacteria lack a food source. This is different from allograft, which can feed microbes. A well-debrided wound with a synthetic graft often does fine.
Placing the graft at the index surgery can save a return trip to the OR. If debridement is thorough and the field looks clean, many surgeons pack the defect right away. You can mix local antibiotics into the paste. If you see gross pus, stage the grafting. Wait 48 to 72 hours and place it later. The decision depends on the debridement quality, not the graft itself.
Talk to your Elite Surgical rep about ACTIFUSE for open fractures. They can show you published data and help you plan the best time to graft. If you still worry, ask a colleague who already uses synthetic grafts in these cases. A quick discussion can settle the question.
Your patient gets a graft that resists infection and bridges the bone gap. You avoid a second surgery when possible. The fracture has a clear path to heal, and you handled the contamination risk with a biomaterial that works as a scaffold, not a food source.
Other things people in Cincinnati Children’s 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 Cincinnati Children’s and the area around it.