The Leicester Bone and Tissue Bank (LBTB) stores and supplies bones and other tissues to transplant surgeons all over the UK. It began on a small scale at Glenfield Hospital in 1988 and has been providing tissues for transplants nationwide since 1991. It is now the largest NHS hospital-based tissue bank in the country. We work closely with the Department of Health’s Human Tissue Authority and licensed under the Human Tissue Act 2004.
How do we get donated bone?
Bone can be donated by patients having primary hip replacement surgery. We collect bones from hospitals across the country and supply surgeons across the UK.
During the operation, a surplus piece of bone (called the femoral head) must be removed to be replaced with the new artificial hip. This surplus piece of bone can be stored in our bone bank. Once tests are completed to ensure the bone is safe to use, it will become available as a transplant.
Other types of skeletal tissue, for example tendons, can be sourced and stored in our freezers until required for a patient’s surgery. A tendon may need to be transplanted to treat a torn or otherwise damaged tendon.
Who needs bone transplants?
Donated bone may be use as a transplant to replace diseased or damaged bone. Many people have hip replacements, but occasionally these wear out and need replacing. Donated femoral heads are routinely used during these revision operations.
Heart valves
The Leicester Bone and Tissue Bank extended its bone banking services in 1994 to store donated heart valves. Glenfield Hospital became one of the most active centres for this type of transplant in the country.
Heart valves can be transplanted into patients whose own valves are damaged or diseased and are often transplanted to save the lives of young children or babies who are born with defective valves in their hearts. In 2021, we set up licensed facilities at the Leicester Royal Infirmary to store and supply heart valves for the new East Midlands Congenital Heart Service. This unit is recognised as being amongst the best in the world when it comes to the treatment of congenital heart disease.
Cornea transplants
The cornea is the clear protective outer layer at the front of the eye. The cornea directs light rays into the eye and helps focus them on the light-sensitive retina at the back of the eye, providing sharp vision. A corneal transplant replaces a cornea affected by disease or injury with healthy, clear cornea tissue taken from a multi organ or tissue donor. It can be used to improve sight, relieve pain, and treat severe infection or damage.
The Leicester Bone and Tissue Bank has established a licensed facility at the Leicester Royal Infirmary’s ophthalmology department where corneas may be stored prior to transplantation. We source corneas from NHS Blood and Transplant or from one of the largest cornea banks in the world based in the USA.
Tissue donation
Although thousands of lives are saved every year with the help of donated organs such as heart and kidneys, many people are not aware that donated tissues including heart valves and corneas can dramatically improve the quality of life for recipients and even save lives.
Organs need to be retrieved quickly after death. Tissues are normally donated within 24 hours after a patient has died. However, sometimes it is possible to donate tissues up to 48 hours after death, so it is often possible to donate tissues even if organ donation is not feasible. Many more tissue donors are needed to maintain this supply of tissues.
Join the NHS Organ Donor Register and help increase this number.