Page 25 - News_Combine_v3

Kindness goes bone deep. Your hip replacement can also help

someone else

Julie Purkis
Public Relations Liaison
Centre for Tissue Engineering
Tshwane University of Technology
Tshwane

id you know, that at the time of hip replacement surgery, in spinal and orthopaedic surgery to fill a bone void or act as a
patients can choose to donate the femoral head to the reconstructive graft in adults and children alike.
tissue bank, instead of having it discarded as medical
waste! In South Africa, both the Centre for Tissue What does the process entail?
Engineering (CTE) and Vitanova, are authorised At the time of hip replacement surgery, the patient will be ap-
human tissue banks, facilitating tissue donation to the benefit of proached to consider donating the femoral head to the tissue
patients in need. bank, and needs to provide written consent. The patient will be
required to answer some health-related questions. This reduces
The CTE is a not-for-profit tissue bank, authorised by the Nation- the risk of possible bacterial, viral and other disease transmis-
al Department of Health under Chapter 8 of the National Health sions in line with standard tissue bank protocol.
Act 61 of 2003. The centre is managed by Tshwane University of
Technology, (TUT) under the Faculty of Science and is ISO 9001 Once the patient agrees to donate the femoral head, a blood
accredited. sample is procured during the hip replacement surgery for
screening tests, and the femoral head itself is set aside for col-
Vitanova – which means “new life” – was established to alleviate lection by the tissue bank. Once the donor serum results and
the enormous need for donated tissue in South Africa. As a tissue bone specimen have passed quality control checks, it is pro-
bank, Vitanova is dedicated to increasing the awareness of tissue cessed into a product to be used in patient treatment.
donation and the number of registered tissue and organ donors,
through public education. Through cutting-edge technology, a What is the criteria?
state-of-the-art facility in the Western Cape and local and interna- Anyone from the age of 16 years, undergoing a total hip replace-
tional tissue-engineering expertise, Vitanova impacts the lives of ment may choose to donate. Minors will required to cosign the
patients requiring tissue transplantation and implantation. consent with their legal guardian/s.

Both tissue banks endeavour to make tissue transplantation What tests are required and why?
options more accessible to the South African medical fraternity All donors are screened for HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B and C.
due to the dire shortage in all disciplines of tissue for human This ensures a product that is disease free and safe for appli-
transplantation. cation, in compliance with international standards. The tissue
banks will not run any of the tests without the donor’s free and
What is a hip replacement? informed consent. All test results remain confidential.
A hip replacement is a surgical procedure in which the diseased
or fractured section of the hip joint is removed and replaced All costs related to the donation and the testing of the blood
with a metal or ceramic joint called a prosthesis. This medical specimens is borne by the relevant tissue bank.
intervention affords patients improved mobility and a better
quality of life. A hip replacement may be necessary due to di- For any concerns about the donation process, simply notify the
verse diseases (e.g. osteo-arthritis) or trauma (e.g. accidental tissue coordinator within the respective area. We thank you in
fracture). advance for choosing to make a difference. Please share the
positive news with others.
Why the femoral head?
The femoral head is the ball section of the hip joint, and once For more information please visit:
removed during surgery is usually discarded as medical waste Centre for Tissue Engineering (All in-land provinces)
for incineration. Although the cartilage of the femoral head may Website: www.tissuedonation.org.za
be damaged, there typically remains healthy cancellous tissue Toll free: 0800 847 783 (tissue)
once processed. E-mail: info@tissuedonation.org.za
Tissue Coordinator: Sister Lia Jorge 0788450424
What is femoral head donation? Vitanova (All coastal provinces)
Any patient undergoing a hip replacement may consent to Website: www.vitanova.org.za
donate their femoral head to a tissue bank. Donated femo- Toll free: 087 068 8000
ral heads are screened and processed to expose the beautiful Email: donation@bonesouthafrica.co.za
white porous bone, to be prepared for a new application for use Recovery & Awareness Manager: Sandra Venter 0823253448

Vol 20 No 1 Issue 65 - May 2021 7