Govt Eyes Human Bone Processing Guidelines

Centre to create database of donors, recipients, hospitals with bone banks

- Priyanka Sharma

The National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) is preparing guidelines on processing and storage of human bones and aims to create a database of donors, recipients and hospitals with these facilities, as demand for natural bones for reconstructive procedures rises in the country.

Processed human bones, or those that have been sterilized to reduce the risk of infection, are required to perform bone fixation surgery in patients who may be suffering from bone cancer, or had a trauma, or other medical conditions that have destroyed their bones. Currently, metal plates or rods are mostly used to fix bone fractures, raising the risk of infection.