For first ear bones lab,MAMC scouts for unclaimed bodies

According to Dr J C Passei,professor at the ENT department and in-charge of the laboratory,“About 78 per cent Indians suffer from chronic ear infections,which could lead to hearing loss and even life-threatening situations. These infections often affect the temporal bone,located behind the ear.”

To treat such cases,the infected part of the bone is removed and the ear bone is reconstructed through a procedure known as temporal bone dissection.

“Such a technical procedure cannot be performed without hands on training. We felt the need to set up a bone laboratory to help students and young ENT surgeons learn this procedure.”

At present,ear bones have been retrieved from 10 bodies and stations set up to start the training procedure.

Unlike other organs,bones are not required to be removed from the body immediately after death.

According to an official in the Health department,“No hospital had an ear bone laboratory. As per the rules,if a body is unidentified for 72 hours,it is termed unidentified. Bones are the only parts that are still retrievable after such a long duration.”