Hip Replacement Patients
Bone donation …a chance to help
Bone donation
During your hip replacement surgery a piece of bone, known as the femoral head, will be removed so that your new joint can be fitted. Previously this bone was always discarded but today, with your help, it can be used for the benefit of other patients. Donation does not affect your operation at all, since the bone must be removed anyway. Should you decide to donate, your bone will be stored within a tissue bank until it’s used for clinical / research purposes. Should you decide not to donate, your bone will be discarded.
Why donate bone?
Bone is the most frequently needed human tissue after blood. It is given to patients who have suffered bone loss due to disease, trauma or previous surgery. Sometimes a small amount of the patients’ own bone can be used, but this is often not enough and donated bone from a bone bank must be used. For this reason we are asking you to consider donating the bone that will be removed during your operation, so that it can be used to help other patients.
Testing of bone donors
Like blood donors, bone donors are tested to ensure that they do not carry certain viruses. If you wish to donate, a small blood sample will be taken during your operation to test for infections, including hepatitis B and C, HIV, HTLV and syphilis. These tests may need to be repeated approximately six months later. At that time you will be contacted and asked to visit your GP surgery or local hospital to have the test done but only if this is necessary. The bone will be stored in the Tissue Bank until we are sure it is safe to be used for other patients. If you want to know more about the blood tests please ask the nurse for the leaflet "Tests on your blood – A guide for donors".
During your operation your surgeon may decide that your bone is not suitable for donation. Should this happen your blood will not be tested. The test results, and your personal details will be kept on a database. Access to the database is restricted to NHS Blood and Transplant, although you can apply in writing for a copy of your records. A small sample of your blood is kept in case further tests are required at a later date. You do have the right to be informed of the results of your blood tests. More information about data protection is available in the leaflet "Data protection – A guide for donors".
Can you help?
Prior to your surgery you will be asked if you wish to donate your bone. If you are willing, a nurse will discuss donation with you and answer any questions you may have, and you will be asked to sign a consent form. Unfortunately, not everyone can donate. Please consider the following carefully, and if you have ever suffered with any of these conditions please do not offer to donate:
- Osteoporosis
- Cancer
- Parkinson’s disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Syphilis
You are also unable to donate your bone if you have received:
- A blood transfusion since 1980
- A tissue/organ transplant
If you have had any other serious disease, please discuss this with the nurse.
Please do not offer to donate bone if:
- You are HIV positive
- You know you carry hepatitis B or C virus
- You are a man who has EVER had oral or anal sex with another man (even safe sex using a condom)
- You have EVER received money or drugs for sex
- You have EVER injected yourself, or been injected with, drugs; even if a long time ago or only once. This includes bodybuilding drugs (please ask about prescribed drugs)
Please do not offer to donate if you have had sex in the last 12 months with:
- Someone you think may be infected with hepatitis or HIV
- (If you are female) A man who has ever had oral or anal sex with another man, even if they use a condom
- A partner who has received money or drugs for sex
- A partner who has ever injected, or been injected with, drugs; even a long time ago or only once. This includes bodybuilding drugs
- A partner who has, or you think may have been, sexually active in parts of the world where HIV/AIDS is very common, this includes most countries in Africa.