In 1996, the Donor Tissue Bank of Victoria established the Living Donor Program. This program provides individuals who are undergoing a hip replacement, who are otherwise healthy, the opportunity to donate the bone which is routinely removed and otherwise discarded at the time of surgery. The hip is replaced because the cartilage surrounding the bone in the joint is worn, but usually there is nothing wrong with the bone itself (the cartilage is not needed for transplant). The donation will not alter your operation other than a little time from the theatre staff to take samples and package the bone, and your care will remain their priority.

The bone is removed at one of the participating hospitals in metropolitan Melbourne or large regional centres and is then transported to the Donor Tissue Bank of Victoria. It is tested in our microbiology laboratory for microbes and transmissible viruses, and is then stored in a freezer for 6 months quarantine. We then ask the donor to have another blood test to confirm the absence of infectious viruses e.g. HIV and Hepatitis. The bone is then processed in our cleanrooms into grafts for surgery. Once the donated bone has completed all its testing and the results are satisfactory, it can be transplanted to another patient.

How is the bone used?

Bone donations from living donors are usually ground up or milled and are used to fill cavities created from prostheses used in orthopaedic surgery (e.g. hip replacement) after time wearing away the patient’s bone. This causes significant discomfort, pain and limits mobility. The prosthesis can be removed during revision surgery and the worn away bone can be replaced with donated bone (impaction grafting where ground bone is packed into the hole) before a new prosthesis is inserted.

Why do we test the donor’s blood?

The safety of both the donor and the recipient is paramount to us. That is why we test the donor’s blood for any sign of disease. All donors are tested for HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, Human T-cell Lymphotrophic Virus (HTLV) and syphilis. If any of these tests should be positive, we will contact the donor’s doctor who will in turn contact the donor. If we don’t test the donor’s blood, then the donated bone cannot be used.

When do we test the donor’s blood?

If the donor decides to donate their bone, a small sample of blood is taken during the operation. This is sent to the DTBV to be tested in our Microbiology laboratory. A second blood test is done six months after the operation. There are no charges to the donor for any aspect of the donation including testing. The second blood test is very important as without these results we will be unable to use the bone that had been donated six months previously. This is to minimise the risk of transmissible infection and is a requirement of the Australian Therapeutic Goods Agency (TGA).

How can I become a bone donor in this program?

If you are having surgery on your hip for the first time, you could be a possible donor. Although the bone is no longer useful for you, other people may benefit from it. It is also possible that you will need a hip revision in the future reliant on the bone donated by others. If you wish to donate your bone and you live in Melbourne or country Victoria, discuss this with your orthopaedic surgeon before your hip operation. If your bone is suitable to donate and the hospital is a participant in our program, you will be asked questions on your past and present medical and social history (very similar to the questions asked of blood donors). This will include questions about HIV/AIDS. Your blood will be tested for HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, HTLV and syphilis. You will also be asked to sign a consent form as we need your permission to store the bone and to perform the blood tests.

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