GOSFORD Hospital has reached a milestone with 100 patients undergoing hip-replacement surgery donating their old hip bone to help people needing life-enhancing bone grafts.
The femoral head program was launched at the hospital in 2014 and since then 100 people have generously agreed to become donors.
Typically, the femoral head bone removed during a hip replacement would be discarded.
But Central Coast Local Health Districts organ donation co-ordinator Yoni Hope-Hodgetts said donating the bone can help people needing life-enhancing spinal fusions and treatments after cancer, trauma and sports injuries.
“Bone grafts can reduce the healing time for orthopaedic surgery by 50 per cent, which makes a significant difference to the outcome of these patients,” Ms Hope-Hodgetts said.
To become a donor, you need to be aged between 15 and 90, complete a donation questionnaire and provide consent.
Donor Lorraine O’Dowd, 50, of Berkeley Vale, had a hip replacement at GosfordHospital last year.
“When I found out my hip bone could help others instead of being thrown away, I didn't think twice about it,” Ms O’Dowd said
“I’ve had a family member who needed bone marrow and a friend who needed two kidney transplants, so I am a big supporter of things like this.
“You need to put yourself in their position – it could be you one day, or someone in your family.”
- NSW Bone Bank, (02) 9382-7855.
