Kolkata: Kolkata has taken a major leap in advanced orthopaedic care with the launch of a dedicated Bone Bank at CMRI. This marks the first fully operational Bone Bank in Eastern India, offering surgeons a reliable and safe source of bone allografts for complex reconstructive procedures.
Hospital officials said the new facility aligns with national and international standards and will transform musculoskeletal, trauma, oncology, and reconstructive surgery outcomes in the region.
Ensuring safe and timely bone graft availability
Bone banks have become essential to modern surgical practice. They allow hospitals to store and supply high-quality bone grafts that undergo strict donor screening, microbiological testing, and validated sterilisation. Each graft is traceable through every step of processing and delivery.
Autograft harvesting, which requires taking bone from a patient’s own body, often results in added operative time, pain, and risks related to limited graft quantity. By reducing such dependence, CMRI’s Bone Bank aims to speed up procedures and support stronger post-operative recovery.
The facility will store a wide range of graft types, including structural grafts, corticocancellous blocks, morselized grafts, and cancellous chips. Surgeons will be able to choose grafts based on clinical needs of tumour resections, nonunion repairs, spinal fusion, deformity correction, and severe fractures.
Clinicians welcome the milestone
Speaking about the clinical significance, Dr. Rakesh Rajput, HOD and Director, Orthopaedics at CK Birla Hospitals–CMRI, said the Bone Bank will enable safer and more advanced orthopaedic reconstruction. He noted that allografts help restore bone structure and stability while avoiding the trauma associated with autografts. He emphasised reduced operative time, lower morbidity, and greater graft availability as major advantages.
He added that strict screening, processing, and documentation give surgeons the confidence needed to undertake demanding procedures. He called the Bone Bank a major step toward providing safe, ethical, and high-quality care for patients in the region.
Commitment to patient-centric infrastructure
Sombrata Roy, Unit Head, CK Birla Hospitals – CMRI, said the Bone Bank highlights the hospital’s mission to enhance patient care through strong clinical infrastructure. A regulated supply of grafts is expected to shorten waiting periods, support complex surgeries, and ensure more equitable access for patients across Eastern India.
He stressed that the facility follows strict ethical protocols for tissue procurement and aims to build a patient-focused model backed by standardised practices.
A hub for training and future innovation
In addition to surgical support, the Bone Bank will aid medical research and training at CMRI. Plans include resident education, simulation-based learning, and research on graft performance. With trained staff and secure cold-chain systems in place, CMRI aims to develop the facility into a regional centre for safe and ethical bone procurement, processing, and distribution.
