Demand and supply of bone allograft and the role of orthopaedic surgeons.

This study assessed factors responsible for exclusion of patients from bone donation at primary hip arthroplasty in order to improve bone banking. Fifty-five patients underwent screening in preoperative clinics assessing their suitability for femoral head donation. Records at the bone bank were then reviewed post operatively to check whether bone had been harvested from these individuals during surgery. Overall, 95% of the patients screened did not proceed to bone banking. After the initial screening stage 60% of patients were excluded. The majority of exclusions (70%) were unacceptable as donors because of their potential risk of transmission of disease to recipients. Although 40% were consented for donation, femoral heads from only 5% were harvested and sent for storage in the bone bank during hip arthroplasty. Orthopaedic surgeons must take an active part in bone banking and alternative sources of bone grafts require exploration in the future to meet the increasing demand.