Information for Recipients
Bone graft procedures are very common and the demand for human graft materials is growing. Bone & tissue donations enable PlusLife to produce transplant material (graft) to assist surgeons to treat many patients undergoing complex surgical procedures, thereby improving wellbeing, mobility and function.
Information for Graft Recipients
Organ and Tissue Donation
You may be aware that many people choose to donate their organs. many people are unaware that it is also possible to donate tissue.
There are two forms of donation:
1. Patients having hip replacement surgery can donate the ball part of the hip joint (femoral head) which is removed as a routine part of the procedure.
2. During their lifetime, people may indicate a wish to donate organs and tissue after their death. Following the death of a loved one, the next of kin is approached to consent to the donation of musculoskeletal tissue (long bone and associated tissue such as tendons, ligaments & fascia) for transplant purposes.
How are bone and tissue grafts used?
Bone. tendon, and ligament grafts are often used in conjunction with prosthetic implants such as metal hip implants, plates & screws. Once implanted into the recipient, the bone graft does not grow, but can stimulate the recipient's own bone to grow into the graft to repair areas of lost bone.
There are strict donor selection criteria and regulatory controls related to the screening and testing of donors and donated material. A thorough review of the donor's medical and social history is obtained.
Brochure: Receiving a bone or tissue graft
Write to your Donor or Donor's Family
After their surgery, some recipients choose to write to their donor or donor’s family to thank them for their gift, to share information about themselves and to let them know how the transplant has changed their life.
We encourage transplant recipients to write to their donor or donor's family if and when it feels right to them. The decision to write is a deeply personal one.
There is no right or wrong time or way to say 'thank you' to your donor or donor's family. If you would like to do this, send a card, letter or photograph to us, we will review your communication to ensure confidentiality and if your donor or donor's family has indicated a wish to receive correspondence from recipients, we will arrange for it to be forwarded on to them.
Please enclose your name and date of surgery on a separate piece of paper in the envelope, so we can ensure we connect you with the right donor or donor's family. Your letter to the family should not include any identifying details, i.e. no name, address, or phone details should be included.
Occasionally we receive return return correspondence from the donor or donor's family, which we will then forward on to the recipient.
Recipient correspondence should be sent to:
PlusLife
Recipient Correspondence
PO Box 5042
Midland, WA 6056