Scientists are using old discarded bones to make new hips for patients

Surgeries carried out every year help a lot of people but also lead to a large number of medical waste being generated. But advances in medical technology have ensured new ways of making it useful for more people.

Health services have to spend millions every year to dispose of over 1 lakh tons of medical waste. But now scientists are using some of this to help people who need knee or hip replacements.

The idea is to recycle old bones removed during surgery to grow bone and cartilage that can last for the patient’s life unlike artificial joints. They are buying discarded hip joints and using stem cells from them to grow cartilage in the lab.

Since stem cells are difficult to access in a person, harvesting them from tissue that has been thrown out can be the answer.