Bone Bank

What is a Bone Bank?

A bone bank is also referred to as a bone graft or bone tissue bank that plays an important role in the field of surgery and healthcare. It benefits in depositing donated bone tissues that are used for several clinical purposes further. Bone bank is primarily considered as a medical facility that assists in storing and distributing bone grafts that can be used in several surgical procedures or transplantation purposes. Donated bone grafts in a bone bank are mainly used for orthopedic and dental surgeries to replace and repair missing or damaged bone.

How are bone grafts sourced to be stored in a bone bank?

Here are some of the ways indicating how bone grafts are sourced so that they can be stored in a bone bank for transplantation purposes:

Autograft: Bone tissues first are collected from the patient’s body, usually from a different bone, and transplanted to the area that requires repair. It is often a gold standard normally considered by surgeons as it reduces the risk of graft failure or rejection.
Allograft: Bone tissues are collected from a deceased donor. The collected bone grafts are sent for processing, sterilization, and storage purposes in the bone bank for distribution to surgeons who require bone transplantation. It offers the benefit of not needing a secondary surgical site for graft harvesting however, it might involve an immune response risk.
Xenograft: This is a last resort that is considered only to create microenvironments closer to the pathological and physiological condition closer to the tumor. Bone tissues are often gathered from other living species like pigs. One of the common instances of using pig's heart valves in humans. It is important to note that it is still being tested primarily for new cancer treatment in preclinical research.

Why bone donation is needed for a bone bank?

Bone donation often is referred to as bone tissue donation for clinical purposes like spinal fusions, bone grafts, and orthopedic surgeries. The bone bank requires bone donation for recipients who require bone donation on an urgent basis. Here are some of the situations reflecting the need for bone donation:

Orthopedic surgeries: Bone donors are required for a patient who needs bone transplantation or bone grafts for the treatment of conditions such as bone defects, non-union fractures, and bone infections.
Spinal fusions: Bone grafts are usually used for joining more than two vertebrae together in case of spinal fusion surgery. These grafts are collected from a donor.
Bone cancer: Surgical removal of the affected bone is required in cases of bone cancer or tumors. Done bones are used for replacing the bone.
Bone defects: Some people are born with or grow conditions causing bone deformities or defects. In such cases, bone grafts from donors help in correcting the tissues.
Maxillofacial reconstruction: For people who have experienced serious congenital deformities of the facial bones or facial trauma, bone grafts collected from donors can help in reconstructive surgeries.

Is bone transplantation recommended for every patient with bone problems?

It is vital to understand that not every patient with bone-related conditions requires bone grafts or bone transplantation. In some cases, the patient’s bone graft can also be used or surgeons might consider using synthetic materials or alloplastic grafts. However, when a bone is required, it is usually collected from a bone bank. Surgeons involve using a bone graft donated by deceases people who have consented to tissue donation.

Whenever a bone graft is recommended to a patient, it is screened properly to make sure that the donated bone is secure for transplantation and no risk of infection is there. Surgeons make sure that high regulation of bone transplantation to reduce the risks.

If you want to become a donor or someone you know might require bone grafts, you can consult The Calcutta Medical Research Institute in Kolkata for more information. Our orthopedic surgeons will ensure the evaluation of your condition and understand whether a bone graft is required or not. On the other hand, technical and ethical considerations are followed before donor bones are collected.

Who can donate bones to bone bank?

When it comes to who can donate bones to a bone bank, the eligibility criteria rely on the particular bone bank and local regulations. Here are some of the general guidelines, we at CMRI follow when choosing a bone donor for our bone bank:

Age: It is one of the important criteria we follow. The age of a donor must range between 18-60. However, it might also vary depending on certain factors.
Health status: Our healthcare professionals at CMRI make sure that a bone donor’s overall health is fine during donation. We consider donors ineligible if they have any medical condition or disease.
Death cause: Bones are usually collected from deceased individuals who have died from non-transmissible illnesses or injuries like trauma or accidents. Individuals who died from communicable or infectious diseases will not be included in the eligibility criteria for bone donation.
Consent: We make sure that the donor is donating or donated the bone through informed consent after legal representation if the donor is dead.
Tissue quality: Bones must be in their best condition for transplantation or research. There are factors like death cause, infections presence, and time elapsed since death that need to be considered as they can affect the bone quality.
Blood and tissue typing: Our surgeons at CMRI ensure the compatibility between the donor’s bone tissue and the receiver’s tissue is perfect to perform the transplant successfully. Blood and tissue typing is performed for a good match.
Screening: Donors might have to undergo a screening process for communicable diseases such as hepatitis, HIV, and other infectious illnesses. If the results are positive, it disqualifies the donor.
Ethical and legal considerations: These are involved in bone donation and include the wish of a respective donor, ensuring voluntary donation, and complying with legal or local regulations.

It is essential to understand that particular requirements and eligibility criteria might differ depending on some factors. If you are interested in donating your bones or know someone who might require bone grafting, make sure to consult our bone bank healthcare professionals at CMRI. They can offer you complete clarification related to bone donation and its implications process.

What are the benefits of a bone bank?

The bone bank ensures the safe availability and feasible bone grafts for bone transplants. It involves comprehensive screening, processing, and donated bone storage to reduce the risk of graft failure and illness transmission. Here are some other benefits offered by a bone bank:

A bone bank makes sure that the bone graft supply is readily available for several surgical procedures like orthopedic surgeries, dental procedures, or reconstructive surgeries.
A bone bank helps reduce the waiting period for patients looking for bone grafts. It helps in quick procedures and less recovery time.
For bone repair, bone banks can use the patient’s allografts which means there is no need for donor bones. It helps in repairing bone fractures, bone defects, and other bone conditions.
Bone banks make sure that sterilization for the donated bone is done properly involving quality control as it ensures less risk of infection for the recipient.
Bone banks involve following strict protocols and adhering to the standards of bone tissue processing, storage, and bone distribution.
Bone banks also consult research and clinical experts to innovate the bone grafting field. It helps in contributing to the growth of new technologies, materials, and bone-related conditions treatment.
The use of donated bone tissue reduces the requirement for bone harvesting from a patient’s autograft which means less pain, infection, and quick recovery.
Bone grafts from a bone bank are a very affordable treatment option for patients who require bone transplants in comparison to autografts and other surgical procedures.
Bone banks are designed in a way that can assist in long-term bone storage and ensure that bone grafts are viable for a long time to be used in surgeries and emergencies in the future.

Why Should You Choose the Calcutta Medical Research Institute’s Bone Bank for Bone Grafting?

The Calcutta Medical Research Institute (CMRI) is one of the largest multispecialty hospitals in Kolkata. Our hospital is equipped with state-of-the-art technology, revolutionizing the healthcare industry for the best surgical outcomes. In addition, CMRI has several eminent specialists, doctors, and healthcare providers of national and international reputations for comprehensive and personalized treatment. CMRI provides patient-centric care and empathy from internationally trained nurses to ensure holistic care for patients. Here are a few advantages of choosing the CMRI’s bone bank for bone grafting and bone transplants:

Highly qualified and experienced doctors
440-bed capacity along with cutting-edge technology and the latest medical equipment
Hygienic and patient-friendly infrastructure
Thorough screening and diagnosis
Transparent Pricing Structure for cost-effective treatment
Patient-centric, high-quality care for a high success rate
Pain management and palliative care
Complete and coordinated care for patients with all types of cancers.