Explaining the concept of Bone Bank, Dr. Pramod Bhilare, Spine Surgeon and Bone Bank Incharge at Sancheti Hospital, said that the bone bank acquires bones from healthy donors after screening them through stringent criteria, which are stored and used for recipients in need, somewhat similar to the blood bank. The bone bank at Sancheti Hospital currently uses bones that are freshly acquired from donors and stored for about six months at -86 degrees before they are used. The donors are generally those undergoing surgeries for hip or knee joints in conditions like hip arthritis, avascular necrosis, and neck of femur fractures. *For example, in hip arthritis, even if the cartilage is damaged, the bone quality is good and can be used for bone grafting if harvested*.   The bones harvested from patients go through several tests before being frozen for six months.

Dr. Sahil Sanghvi said that the harvested bone becomes invaluable for various reconstructive procedures, especially in conditions of bone defects* caused by trauma and bone tumour excision. This results in lesser donor site morbidity and good outcomes.

He added that our Bone Bank is registered on 10th July 2024 under the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissue Act 1994, and till now we have stored more than 100 freshly frozen bones. The grafts harvested are being utilized for patients in need. Currently, we are harvesting from living donors undergoing replacement around the hip and knee bones, which otherwise would have been thrown away. Once the donor is screened for the selection criteria using several tests, including bone biopsy, consents are obtained from the donor. The tests are done to rule out any infections and to determine the quality of bone.  Once qualified, the bones are then harvested and frozen. Currently, we have harvested around 100 grafts.

Dr. Parag Sancheti, Chairman and Managing Director, Sancheti Hospitals, said that this initiative not only promotes optimal use of surgical byproducts but also addresses the requirement of bone graft materials. In certain cases, this can also help in eliminating the use of extra metal implants. The entire procedure ensures that there is minimal rejection. This program is a significant milestone in orthopaedics in Pune and will demonstrate to be a life-enhancing initiative for patients.

Dr Chetan Pradhan, Head of Trauma Unit at Sancheti Hospitals, said that this is a boon for patients with bone gaps due to accidents and other conditions. The bone bank is at par with world standards. We have done about 100 bone grafts with nearly no rejection. Currently, this bone bank is available for Sancheti Hospital. Once the system is well-oiled like the blood banks, in the coming month, we are thinking of making this available for other hospitals too.

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Dr. Kannan Subramanian, Consultant Haematologist at KEM Hospital, Pune, and Head of the Unit, said that while the unit is especially for pediatric patients, it is also completely equipped to treat adults.

The Unit will serve patients with leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, thalassemia, aplastic anemia, primary immunodeficiency disorders, etc.

All processes related to  BMT – from stem cell harvest, and storage, to infusion will be undertaken under one roof. The facility is strongly supported by multi-specialty backup and critical care.

Dr. Kannan added that the Unit with cutting-edge technology, experts including hematologists, oncologists, and trained nurses and staff will ensure specialized care, and a multidisciplinary approach to overall health and well-being while tackling blood-related disorders.  

Along with an established Haematology Department, the new unit reflects our ability to diagnose and treat all blood-related disorders.

Dr. Farrokh Wadia, Trustee of the hospital and Director of the Renal Unit said that the launch of the BMT Unit is an important milestone for our hospital and reflects our efforts to offer end-to-end services with advanced technologies and multidisciplinary support at affordable rates.

Bone Marrow Transplant is a specialized and critical procedure that includes healthy bone marrow cells or stem cells replacing damaged bone marrow. It provides a ray of hope for restoring the body’s ability to produce healthy blood cells which is crucial for our immune function and overall health.

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