In a significant medical first for Eastern India, a private hospital in Kolkata is poised to inaugurate its very own 'bone bank' this Saturday. This pioneering facility, established at CMRI Hospital in south Kolkata, will enable the harvesting of bones from deceased donors, facilitating life-changing transplant procedures similar to organ transplants.
How the Bone Bank Will Function
The hospital is prepared to counsel the families of brain-dead patients, encouraging them to consider bone donation alongside organ donation. The harvested bones will be a vital resource for patients requiring bone replacements due to various medical conditions. A hospital spokesperson confirmed that, following all necessary protocols, the bone bank will also supply bones to other private and government hospitals for replacement surgeries.
Dr. Rakesh Rajput, Head of the Department of Orthopaedics at the hospital, elaborated on the need for such a facility. "Sometimes, we can source bones from a patient's own body, but this is often insufficient. Typically, we rely on bones donated for the purpose, particularly from patients who have undergone major procedures like knee surgery, hip surgery, extensive spine fusion, or bone tumour excisions."
CMRI Hospital has already amassed an initial inventory of 35 bones and bone fragments to kickstart this initiative. The hospital also possesses portions of the spine ready for transplant use.
Expanding to Tissue Banking and Future Impact
Dr. Rajput also revealed the hospital's future roadmap, stating that once the bone bank is operational, they plan to move into comprehensive tissue banking. This advanced step would allow for the storage of soft tissues, such as tendons, muscles, and ligaments, which are crucial for reconstruction and repair surgeries. He added that total hip and knee replacements are valuable sources of bones and cartilages suitable for transplantation.
Highlighting the practical benefits, Dr. Rajput explained, "We frequently treat patients who need bone parts or fragments following surgeries, especially brain or spine operations. The current practice involves taking small portions from the patient's own healthy bones, but that is not always adequate. A dedicated bank will give us access to bones that can be precisely shaped to meet individual patient needs."
A Revolution in Orthopaedic Care
The establishment of this bank is expected to transform orthopaedic treatment in the region. Dr. Dipanjan Bhadra, an Orthopaedic surgeon from Ruby General Hospital, hailed the initiative as revolutionary. He emphasized its importance for trauma patients who sustain multiple fractures and are left with bone gaps that cannot be filled using their own bones (autograft).
"Spinal fusion surgeries also require bone fragments, which can now be easily sourced from the bank and customized," Dr. Bhadra said. "Furthermore, patients who have had knee or hip replacements sometimes develop infections, necessitating the removal of implants and leaving behind gaps that this bank can help address."
To ensure the highest standards, the hospital has a team of orthopaedic specialists trained at Bengaluru's Ramaiah Memorial Hospital, where they refined their skills in bone harvesting and transplantation. The inauguration event for the bone bank will see the presence of several recipients who have successfully undergone bone replacement surgeries using donor bones.
