Receiving bone graft from the bone bank
Date issued: September 2022
For review: September 2024
Ref: A-214/Orthopaedics/HF/Receiving bone graft from the bone bank v5
PDF: Receiving bone graft from the bone bank final Sept 2016 v2.pdf[pdf] 281KB
You have been given this information leaflet because your surgeon thinks that you might require a bone graft during your forthcoming surgery.
Bone donated by other patients is kept in a ‘Bone bank’, just like a ‘Blood bank’. This bone is obtained mainly from patients who are having a hip replacement but occasionally it is taken from deceased individuals.
If it is possible, your own bone taken from the pelvis will be used. If this is not possible then the surgeon may need to use donated bone from the bone bank to restore your lost bone. Donors are carefully selected and have to undergo extensive tests to minimize risks of known diseases being transmitted to patients receiving the bone grafts.
In the United Kingdom the selection process for bone donation is extremely rigorous. Donors are thoroughly questioned about their medical history and life style for possible exposure to diseases which are transmittable. They are also tested for HIV, HTLV, Syphilis and Hepatitis B & C. Currently, there is no known test to detect vCJD ‘ mad cow disease’. In this country, there are no recorded cases of a patient contracting a disease such as vCJD or HIV from bone grafts. A small risk of infection is still present however. You will therefore be asked to sign a form before your surgery giving your consent to receive bone donated by another person and that you understand and accept the very small risk of contracting disease.
All data relating to bone donation and the use of donated bone is stored securely for a period of 30 years. This is a requirement by the law and enables traceability from donor to recipient and vice versa.
All the activities of selecting donors, testing for possible diseases, harvesting the bone, storing and using them are performed under license issued by the Human Tissue Authority (HTA). This is the regulatory authority which guarantees that organisations performing these activities are compliant with the law and regulations. Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust holds a license number 11093 for storage and use of donated bone.
Do you need further information?
It is important that you read this leaflet carefully. If you want to discuss any
issue or need more information related to receiving bone graft, please ask the pre-op nurses or your surgeon.
