Australian Tissue Donation Network

In Australia the donation of eyes and tissue (soft tissues, bones, skin etc.) makes up the largest portion of donation and transplantation, with a significantly higher number of referrals compared to whole organ referrals. Eye and tissue banks provide significant benefits within the health sector. Donations of tissue can significantly improve the lives of recipients and in some cases, is lifesaving. Each year thousands of lives are transformed through receiving donated soft tissue. Bone donated from generous everyday Australians is crafted into much needed graft material known as “allografts”. Patients undergoing routine total hip replacement surgery can choose to donate the bone removed during this operation, that would otherwise be disposed of. The donation of bone can be made in two ways; live donation and deceased donation. The Australian Tissue Donation Network™ Femoral Head Donation Program facilitates the donation of the Femoral Head, removed during routine primary total hip replacement surgery, from live, consenting donors that would otherwise be discarded. Bone donation is voluntary, does not alter how the hip replacement surgery is performed and bares no cost to the donor and as such is referred to as a community service. Just one donation has the potential to change the lives of many.