Bones

Bone definition:

The bone is the hard connective tissue that makes up the skeleton of the body, supported by calcium and specialized bone cells.

Bone functions:

• Provides shape and supports the body.
• Serves as a storage site of minerals.
• Production of blood cells.
• Assisting the body to ease movement.

Reasons of bone transplant:

• Broken bones unrecovered, or abnormal growths bones.
• Advanced bone diseases such as bone cancer and osteonecrosis.
• Infected bones.
• Shattering bones due to car accidents.

Facts about bones:

• The human body’s skeleton consists of 206 bones.
• The thigh bone is the longest bone in the human body.
• Teeth are considered part of the skeleton, even though they aren’t bone.

Prevention of bone diseases:

• Avoid smoking.
• Maintain physical activity.
• Eat a healthy diet.
• Take enough vitamin D and Calcium.
• Be careful of fall.

How can bone be donated?

A person can be a donor by expressing the wish to donate after death by registering his desire through the Tawakkalna application and sharing this desire with his family.

Bone transplantation surgery:

Bone transplantation is a surgical procedure to place new bones or pieces of bones in the location of broken bones or bones that contain a defect requiring replacement.

What is the duration of time that the bone tissues remain viable for transplantation into the patient's body after removal from the donor's body?

Donated bones are stored in a bone bank at transplantation centers for a period of five years after being donated.

How do I prepare for bone transplant surgery?

To obtain bones from a deceased donor, you will first be evaluated by the transplantation team The team may include:

• Bone transplant surgeon.
• Transplant coordinator.
• Social and psychological specialist.
• Nutrition specialist.
• Anesthesiologist.

The bones Transplantation evaluation process includes the following:

• Psychological and social assessment: This includes evaluating your stress, financial problems, and family support, as these issues can have a significant impact on the outcome of transplantation.
• Blood tests: Blood tests are needed to help find good matches between donors; this helps improve the chances of the donor tissue not being rejected by your body.
• Diagnostic tests: Tests can be done to examine your lungs and overall health, these tests may include X-rays, ultrasounds, CT scans, lung function tests, lung biopsies, and dental examination.
• Additional tests: for women may include cervical screenings, evaluation of gynecological diseases, and mammograms.
• The transplantation team will consider all information from interviews, medical history, physical examination, and diagnostic tests to determine your eligibility for bone transplantation.
• Once you are accepted as a candidate for transplantation, you will be placed on the deceased donor’s organ transplant list.
   
• When donor tissue becomes available from a deceased donor, you will be notified and instructed to come to the hospital immediately to prepare for the transplantation procedure.

Preparation before bone transplantation:

• Your transplantation team will explain the procedure to you and give you the opportunity to ask any questions about the procedure.
• You will be asked to sign a consent form that gives you permission to undergo the surgery. (Read the form carefully and ask questions if anything is unclear).
• Healthcare providers may give you specific instructions for preparation.

Instructions to be followed post bone transplant:

• Avoid strenuous exercise.
• It is important to maintain cleanliness of the implanted area, the medical team will instruct you on how to clean the area and how to care for it.
• Avoid smoking, as it slows down the healing process of the bones after transplantation.
• The healing duration depends on the injury and the size of the area that will be implanted, and usually takes 2 weeks to 3 months.

Complications of bone transplantation:

• Bleeding.
• Infection.
• Chronic pain in the implemented area.
• Fractures in transplanted bones.
• Failure of transplanted bones fixation.
• Scarring in the implemented area.