A 15-year-old girl battling osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer, successfully underwent a procedure which saved her legs with the help of a graft from the bone bank at Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai.Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, P.V. Thirumalai Murugan, Professor of Orthopaedics and Traumatology and in charge of the bone Bank at Madurai Medical College, attributed successful surgery to the availability of the hospital’s bone bank.He noted that while it would take time for the patient to walk normally again, saving her leg was a major victory, as amputation was typically the standard treatment for this condition.Dr. Murugan noted that while bone transplants were crucial for saving damaged or diseased limbs, public awareness about bone donation remains low. Established in 2021, the bone bank at Madurai GRH is the second such facility in the State, following the government hospital in Chennai.“As a specialised facility that collects, processes, preserves, and supplies donated human bone tissue for orthopaedic reconstructive surgery, the bone bank represents a major milestone for the region by providing patients with local access to safe, high-quality bone allografts,” he added.Since its inception, the bone bank has benefited nearly 200 patients, including those suffering from severe bone loss due to traffic accidents, bone tumours, non-union fractures, complex spinal disorders, and revision joint replacements.Dr. Murugan observed that these bone allografts have played a critical role in restoring mobility, preserving limbs, and improving patients’ overall quality of life.Key advantages of a bone bank include eliminating the need to harvest bones from the patient’s own body, which reduces surgical pain and complications. Additionally, it shortens operating times, ensures an ample supply of grafts for complex reconstructive surgeries, and leads to better functional outcomes and faster rehabilitation.GRH Dean Dr. L. Arul Sundaresh Kumar stated that the facility’s two deep freezers store bones at –80°C and could hold up to 200 samples at a time.With the bank currently reaching full capacity, he emphasised the need for more eligible recipients to benefit from the available supply.“Bones are sourced from both living and cadaveric donors,” Dr. Kumar said, adding, “In fact, tissue retrieved from a single donor can help transform the lives of up to 12 people.”Equipped with sophisticated technology and a team of specially trained doctors, the bone bank was poised to benefit even more patients in the region, who urgently require these life-changing grafts, he noted. Published - July 22, 2026 08:55 pm IST