Daily Current Affairs : 25-June-2024

The Army’s Research and Referral Hospital in New Delhi has lately inaugurated a state-of-the-art skin bank, which is the first of its kind in the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS). This new facility marks a significant breakthrough in healthcare for the Indian Armed Forces and their families, particularly in treating severe burn injuries and polytrauma cases.

What is a Skin Bank?
A skin bank is a medical facility that specializes in harvesting, processing, preserving, and supplying human skin. In the context of burn treatment, skin allografts (donated skin) are used for patients who have suffered from extensive burns or other serious skin injuries. These allografts play a crucial role in healing and restoring damaged skin, which is essential for the recovery of burn victims.

Functions of the Skin Bank
The primary functions of the new skin bank include:

  • Harvesting: Skin is carefully taken from healthy donors, following strict medical protocols.
  • Processing: The collected skin is processed and sterilized to ensure its safety and suitability for use in burn treatments.
  • Preserving: The processed skin is stored in a controlled environment to maintain its viability.
  • Supplying: The skin is then made available to burn victims and polytrauma patients for use in surgeries and recovery.

Impact on Burn and Trauma Treatment
This skin bank initiative is expected to significantly improve treatment options for soldiers and their families who suffer from severe burns or multiple trauma injuries. These types of injuries are common in military settings, particularly during combat or accidents, making the availability of immediate, high-quality skin grafts critical.

  • Enhanced Recovery: The availability of skin grafts allows for quicker and more effective recovery.
  • Better Medical Care: It reduces dependence on external skin sources and ensures timely treatment.
  • Improved Outcomes: With immediate access to skin grafts, patients can experience better healing outcomes, leading to reduced complications.

Important Points:

  • First Military Skin Bank: The Army’s Research and Referral Hospital in New Delhi has launched the first skin bank within the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS).
  • Primary Functions of the Skin Bank:
  • Harvesting: Skin is taken from healthy donors following strict medical protocols.
  • Processing: The collected skin is sterilized to ensure safety for use in burn treatments.
  • Preserving: The skin is stored in controlled conditions to maintain its viability.
  • Supplying: The processed skin is made available for surgeries and recovery in burn and trauma cases.
  • Impact on Burn and Trauma Treatment:
  • Provides immediate access to high-quality skin grafts for soldiers and their families.
  • Speeds up recovery for burn victims and polytrauma patients.
  • Reduces reliance on external skin sources, ensuring timely treatment.
  • Improves healing outcomes, leading to fewer complications.
  • Significance: This initiative will set new standards for medical care in the military, particularly in treating severe burn injuries and polytrauma, and reflects the Indian military’s commitment to providing the best care for its personnel.

Why In News

The Army’s Research and Referral Hospital in New Delhi has opened a state-of-the-art skin bank, marking a historic milestone as the first of its kind within the Armed Forces Medical Services, a move that aims to revolutionize burn and trauma care for soldiers and their families.

MCQs about The Launch of the First Military Skin Bank

  1. What is the primary purpose of the newly opened skin bank at the Army’s Research and Referral Hospital?
    A. To treat infectious skin diseases
    B. To harvest and store skin for burn treatment and polytrauma patients
    C. To conduct research on skin regeneration
    D. To provide cosmetic surgeries for soldiers
    Correct Answer: B. To harvest and store skin for burn treatment and polytrauma patients
    Explanation: The skin bank’s primary function is to harvest, process, preserve, and supply human skin allografts for treating severe burns and polytrauma injuries among soldiers and their families.
  2. Which of the following is NOT one of the main functions of the skin bank?
    A. Harvesting skin from healthy donors
    B. Sterilizing and preserving the harvested skin
    C. Providing cosmetic surgery services
    D. Supplying skin grafts for burn and trauma treatment
    Correct Answer: C. Providing cosmetic surgery services
    Explanation: The skin bank’s main functions include harvesting, processing, preserving, and supplying skin for burn and trauma treatment, not cosmetic surgery services.
  3. What is the expected impact of the skin bank on burn and trauma treatment?
    A. It will reduce the need for burn treatment entirely.
    B. It will help in faster and more effective recovery of burn victims.
    C. It will provide alternatives to medical surgeries.
    D. It will focus on preventing skin injuries in soldiers.
    Correct Answer: B. It will help in faster and more effective recovery of burn victims.
    Explanation: The skin bank ensures quicker access to high-quality skin grafts, which will speed up recovery and improve healing outcomes for burn and trauma patients.
  4. What makes the skin bank at the Army’s Research and Referral Hospital significant?
    A. It is the first military skin bank in the world.
    B. It is the first skin bank in India for general public use.
    C. It is the first skin bank within the Armed Forces Medical Services.
    D. It is the first hospital to offer free skin grafts to civilians.
    Correct Answer: C. It is the first skin bank within the Armed Forces Medical Services.
    Explanation: The skin bank at the Army’s Research and Referral Hospital is the first within the Armed Forces Medical Services, providing specialized care for military personnel and their families.

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