The spongy tissue inside the larger bones, including the hip bone, sternum, ribs, and thighbone, is called bone marrow.

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), also known as stem cells that give rise to blood cells, are found in the bone marrow.

How to donate bone marrow is a pertinent question everyone asks someone requiring bone marrow surgery or donating bone marrow, but it is typically an outpatient process. You will not feel pain during the donation because you will be given anesthesia. Doctors make two tiny punctures in the back of your pelvic bone and then remove liquid marrow with a needle.

What are the Two Types of Bone Marrow Transplants?

When the bone marrow has been harmed or destroyed because of various conditions, a bone marrow transplant is a surgical procedure that is carried out. In this procedure, healthy stem cells are transplanted in place of damaged stem cells to encourage the development of new bone marrow and healthy blood cells, helping to restore normal levels of platelets, red blood cells, and white blood cells (WBCs).

There are two types of bone marrow transplants:

• An autologous bone marrow transplant replaces the damaged tissue with healthy stem cells from the patient’s body.

• An Allogeneically bone marrow transplanting involves using healthy stem cells from a compatible donor. Failure of the stem cell (graft) procedure is possible.

What Steps Must a Bone Marrow Donor Take?

Based on the donor’s health and whether the recipient’s requirements are similar to blood donation, a suitable donor is chosen, or the national marrow donor program can also do it.

Before The Process

The doctor asks for a thorough medical history, conducts a physical examination, and suggests complete blood and radiological testing. Also, consent for the procedure is necessary.

Throughout The Process

Under general anesthesia, the donor’s bone marrow is harvested (general or local). The patient does not experience a lot of pain during the procedure. The bone marrow is accessed through a small incision, and stem cells are extracted into syringes using a wide-bore needle. After the anesthesia wears off, the donor might feel pain. That is why pain relievers are given.

Since the stem cells are injected through a vein, the procedure is relatively painless for the recipient. But it is not the case for the donor.

Following The Procedure

For 24-48 hours, the wound dressing would be left on. In a day or two, routine activities can be resumed. Patients may experience discomfort, bruising, and swelling, which typically go away weekly. The doctors might recommend antibiotics and painkillers to get a bit of relief.

Complications With Donors

The donors may experience fractured bones, infection, bleeding, and harm to the nearby nerves and blood vessels.

Conclusion

How to donate bone marrow and why it does not harm you is a question for all potential donors. The answer is that your body or the immune system will not be compromised by the amount of bone marrow donated. If the patient is a baby, less blood and marrow are typically donated, about one quart on average. This makes up a tiny portion of your total bone marrow. However, the donor may face a few complications which go away in a few days, and most donors are back to their routine in a few days.

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