Intraoperative Bioactivation of Bone Substitutes Using a Surgical Suction Handle: A Prospective Clinical Pilot Study

Critical size bone defects (CSBD) remain a major challenge in orthopedic surgery. Autologous bone grafting is considered the gold standard but is limited by restricted availability and significant donor-site morbidity. Synthetic bone substitutes offer an alternative; however, these materials are avital and lack osteoinductive properties. This study evaluated whether intraoperative bioactivation of bone substitutes using a surgical suction handle can safely enhance their regenerative potential. Fifty patients with CSBD, non-unions, or high-risk defects were enrolled, and calcium phosphate-based ceramics were intraoperatively coated with autologous tissue via a surgical suction handle and implanted into the defects. Clinical outcomes—including pain, range of motion, and wound healing—were scored using a standardized system, with all patients achieving results in the “excellent” range (10–13 points). Radiographic follow-up showed progressive cortical and extracortical bone formation in all patients. Surgeons reported high ease-of-use for the device, and no device-related complications occurred. Although biomaterial resorption was incomplete in some cases (36% with <75% resorption at six months), no patient required revision surgery. Our data indicate that intraoperative bioactivation of bone substitutes using a surgical suction handle is safe, feasible, and promotes local bone regeneration, providing a minimally invasive and practical approach to enhance the performance of synthetic grafts in challenging defects.