CHENNAI: Bone donations can improve the quality of life of patients, including those diagnosed and operated for bone cancers, health minister Ma Subramanian said appealing to citizens to consider donating bones as a part of cadaveric donations.
"Donated bones from one person can be used in bone grafts which can make an enormous difference in restoring health and mobility of at least 25 patients," he said. The Tamil Nadu state organ registry (TRANSTAN) has so far facilitated harvests of bones from 142 brain dead patients since 2017, he said.
Doctors said bone can be harvested within 12 hours of death in a sterile environment. After doctors harvest vital organs such as lungs, liver, kidney and heart in an operation theatre, bones such as limbs and hips are harvested. Wooden dowels are then used to reconstruct the limbs.
Although the state is among the top in the country for organ donations and transplants awareness about bone donations continues remain low, he said. The Cancer Institute, Adyar, which works with the state government in maintaining a cancer registry for the state, has a functional bone bank, Subramanian said.
Earlier, he inaugurated the cancer awareness bus at the hospital. The vehicle will go around the state to create awareness and dispel myths about cancer.
