Puncture of bone marrow

Bone marrow is a soft spongy substance. It is located inside the pelvic bones, skull, ribs, sternum and tubular bones. Puncture of the bone marrow is a procedure that is performed to determine the cause of leukocytosis , anemia and thrombocytosis. It can also be prescribed to detect metastases in the bone marrow.

Where is the bone marrow puncture done?

Most often the bone marrow puncture is "taken" from the sternum. The puncture is made in the upper third of her body approximately along the middle line or in the region of the handle. During this procedure, a person should lie on his back. In some cases, the puncture of the ilium, the ribs and the spinous processes of the vertebrae are made.

How is the bone marrow puncture done?

To obtain bone marrow from sponge bones, the Arinkin method is used. The bone wall is punctured with a special needle (fat-free and dry). This tool is called a Kassirsky needle. It has a limiter installed at the right depth, which is calculated based on the thickness of the skin and subcutaneous tissue.

Before making a bone marrow puncture, the puncture site is thoroughly disinfected, and then:

1. Using a screw thread, install a fuse, which is located on the needle, at a certain depth.
2. Place the needle perpendicular to the sternum.
3. One movement pierces the skin, the entire subcutaneous layer and only one side of the bone.
4. Stop the needle when it "falls through" into the void, and fix it vertically.
5. Attach the syringe and slowly suck off 0.5-1 ml of bone marrow.
6. Take out the syringe (immediately with the needle).
7. Place the puncture with a sterile patch.

Many patients are afraid to carry out a puncture of the bone marrow, because they do not know if it hurts. This procedure is unpleasant and painful sensations are present, but you can do everything without anesthesia . If it is necessary to remove the sensitivity of the skin around the puncture, then the area where the puncture will be performed is trimmed with a usual 2% solution novocaine. This is done only in extreme cases. This is due to the fact that the puncture of the bone marrow in this case may not show the desired results: cells due to the action of novocaine are lysed and deformed.

Consequences of bone marrow puncture

After the procedure for bone marrow puncture, there may be complications, but they are very rare. Most often they are associated with infection of the cavity, where the instrument was injected. Damage to internal organs can be observed only if there have been gross violations of the procedure. The emergence of such consequences as vascular damage, when bone marrow puncture is simply impossible.