RP specialists use bones of the dead to save the lives of cancer patients

Bones from dead people are being used by Filipino orthopedic surgeons in saving the lives and limbs of bone cancer patients.

Dr. Vince Gomez of the Philippine Orthopedic Institute (POI), a group of bone and joint specialists trained in the United States, United Kingdom and Hong Kong, said that bone tissues taken from selected dead people are being gathered in the POI bone bank in the Makati Medical Center to use in "limb salvage" operations. Gomez stressed that they buy the bone tissues from donors.

Gomez explained that a "limb salvage" operation was a breakthrough surgical procedure wherein a bone cancer patient does not have to resort to the amputation of their bone with cancerous tumors.

Before the availability of a "limb salvage" operation, a bone cancer patient only had the option of amputation or the tumor will spread to other bones leading to extreme pain for the patient and eventual death.

It was learned that the first "limb salvage" operation was performed by Gomez and his fellow POI and Makati Medical Center specialists on then 16-year-old girl Heidi Elauria of Calamba, Laguna with bone cancer in her right leg in 1998.

Four years after her "limb salvage" operation, Gomez said Elauria is now living a normal life as a college student able to walk, swim, run and play with both of her limbs.

Gomez has since participated in and led five other "limb salvage" operations after Elauria.

Gomez, who himself trained at the Stanford University Medical School, said it was the POI’s success in establishing the bone bank that enabled them to do such latest complex bone and joint salvaging and rehabilitation operations.

Gomez said that the POI bone bank was well stocked with cadaver bone tissues that have been frozen and radiated under the supervision of the Atomic Energy Commission to ensure its sterilization.

The POI, observing its 15th year anniversary from Nov. 4 to 10 as the country celebrates the National Orthopedic Week, was formed in 1987 by a group of Filipino orthopedic surgeons practicing out of the Makati Medical Center led by world famous bone specialist Dr. Ramon Gustilo.