How to choose a bone graft substitute for distal radius fracture
For surgeons in IU Health, IN: how to match bone graft form to your distal radius void.
You're in the OR at IU Health, facing a distal radius fracture with a dorsal comminution and a void. The tray has granules, flowable putty, and a moldable strip. You need the graft to fill every corner, not migrate into the joint, and not interfere with your hardware. Which form fits?
A distal radius fracture with dorsal comminution often leaves a metaphyseal void after reduction. That empty space can delay healing or allow the reduction to settle. Bone graft substitutes fill that gap so new bone can cross it. The trick is picking a form that matches the void. A small contained defect behaves differently than a large uncontained one. The wrong form can scatter into the joint or block hardware.
Cost depends on the graft form and volume needed. Flowable grafts in a syringe add minimal extra steps. Moldable strips take a moment to shape but hold in uncontained defects. The real cost driver is a revision if the graft migrates or fails to remodel. Spending a little more on the right form upfront avoids a second trip to the OR.
Next time you have a distal radius case at IU Health, look at the void before you open a graft. A small, contained cavity calls for a flowable graft like ACTIFUSE FLOW. It goes in through a syringe, fills every corner, and sets quickly. A larger, uncontained defect needs a moldable form like ACTIFUSE SHAPE that you can pack and sculpt. It stays put and does not migrate. Avoid loose granules that can scatter into the radiocarpal joint. Elite Surgical can bring samples and the clinical data to your next case.
After the case, the void is filled with a graft that matches the defect. The hardware sits cleanly, the graft holds its shape, and you know it will remodel into host bone over weeks. The patient's wrist heals without graft-related complications. You move on to the next case, confident you chose the right form.
Other things people in IU Health 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.
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 IU Health and the area around it.