The National Orthopaedic Hospital Cappagh conducts in excess of 800 hip replacement surgeries each year, and the National Bone Bank is suitably located on-campus to harvest the femoral head during surgery.
A representative from the National Bone Bank team attends the Preoperative Assessment Clinic to discuss bone donation with patients before admission.
Patients who agree to donate bone are asked to complete and sign a medical questionnaire and consent form (specific to the retrieval of bone). Medical history and social risks are assessed, and a series of blood tests are conducted (HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and Syphilis) as required.
On the day of surgery, a member of staff from the Bone Bank attends the operating theatre to conduct femoral head harvesting. The bone is:
- Cleaned of organic matter
- Graded with evaluation of surface damage and quality of bone
- Packaged using sterile techniques
- Labelled as per EU regulations
- Stored at an average temperature of 80 °c degrees for up to 5 years or until used.
The National Bone Bank ensures the prudent use of allograft in surgical procedures, matching requests to suitable bone donations and providing comprehensive instructions for implantation. Allograft for dispatch is carefully packaged in temperature-controlled containers and delivered as requested to other hospitals by a specialist medical courier service.
The National Bone Bank is licensed by the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) to ensure compliance with Irish and EU legislation and standards in its procedures, testing and practices.
The National Bone Bank was first granted a Tissue Establishment Licence in 1996.
- Prof. J. Conor O’Keane, FRCPI., FFPath., RCPI – Head of Department
- Kenneth P O’Haire – Assistant Director of Nursing / National Bone Bank Co-Ordinator
- Eimear Hennessy – Clinical Nurse Specialist / National Bone Bank Co-Ordinator
- Avis Reynolds – National Bone Bank Office Clerk