Is bone graft substitute safe for revision surgery?
Revision safety facts from a medical equipment supplier serving Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, OH.
Your patient had spine fusion at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center with a synthetic bone graft substitute. Now that same level needs a revision procedure. You are trying to decide if cutting through the old graft material is safe or if you need a different approach before you schedule.
You are right to ask about the old graft before you revise. Some materials leave behind dense scar or fibrous tissue that is hard to see and hard to remove. Synthetic silicate-substituted calcium phosphate grafts like ACTIFUSE and ALTAPORE are different. They are made to be replaced by living bone over time. In revision surgery, you are often working through new bone and leftover graft particles, not a wall of scar. Current imaging shows how far that replacement has gone.
Planning a revision with this graft type does not add a separate big cost. You mainly need updated imaging before surgery. A CT or MRI scan shows how much of the old graft has turned to bone. That scan takes one visit and is often covered as part of pre-surgery workup. If the scan shows good bridging, the revision can move ahead. If it shows a gap, you may need to add more graft. Your rep can give a case-specific quote for that added volume in one call.
This week, order updated imaging of the fused level. Do not schedule the revision until you see how much graft has converted to bone. Also pull the first surgery's implant record to confirm which product was used. If it was ACTIFUSE or ALTAPORE, ask for the published revision safety data. Elite Surgical can bring that evidence to your office or value analysis committee before the case. One call is enough to start.
Once you confirm integration with current imaging, you can schedule the revision with a clear plan. The old graft area is just bone. You will know which instruments to open and how much new graft, if any, to add. The case proceeds without surprises from the prior material.
Other things people in Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center 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.
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.
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Elite Surgical handles medical equipment supplier in Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and the area around it.