RG Kar Hospital saves man's leg with deceased donor bone transplant, 1st in eastern India govt sector

In a landmark achievement for government healthcare in eastern India, RG Kar Medical College and Hospital has successfully performed a complex bone transplant using a bone from a deceased donor, saving the leg of a 31-year-old man from amputation. Hospital authorities said this is the first successful surgery of its kind in any government hospital in the region.

The patient, Rizauddin Mondal from Bira in North 24 Parganas district, had suffered a severe road accident in 2023 that shattered the femur bone in his left leg. Despite undergoing two surgeries, his condition deteriorated and a serious infection developed, eventually leading doctors to recommend amputation as the only option.

Refusing to give up, the orthopedic team at RG Kar decided to attempt a deceased donor bone transplant. The donor bone was sourced from Chennai, and the state health department reportedly spent approximately ₹2.40 lakh to facilitate the procedure. The entire treatment was provided free of cost to the patient.

The marathon surgery was conducted on February 17. Doctors confirmed that Rizauddin’s condition is currently stable and that he is under close observation by a dedicated medical team to ensure proper integration of the transplanted bone with his body.

Medical experts believe this breakthrough demonstrates the growing capabilities of government hospitals to deliver advanced and high-cost treatments without burdening patients financially. The success is being seen as a significant step toward expanding access to sophisticated medical care for those unable to afford private healthcare.