A bone marrow needle is used to extract bone marrow for transplants to treat serious medical conditions such as leukemia and immunodeficiency disorders. It differs from other needles in design, thickness, and syringe capacity, and is used with a trocar for bone marrow aspiration or biopsy.
A bone marrow needle is a device used in bone marrow transplants, a procedure used in a number of treatments for some serious medical conditions. Aplastic anemia, some immunodeficiency disorders, and cancers such as Hodgkin’s disease and leukemia are sometimes treated with bone marrow transplants. The first step is to use a bone marrow needle to remove bone marrow from the donor, which in some cases may also be the patient.
A bone marrow needle differs from other types of needles in several ways. Unlike many medical needles, most of which are used for injections, a bone marrow needle is used to extract something. These needles have design features that allow them to perform this important medical procedure. First, bone marrow needles are thicker than an average hypodermic needle, which is usually 12 gauge. Most hypodermic needles are smaller, usually at least 16 gauge.
Both types of needles are used with syringes. The syringe used with a bone marrow needle usually has a significantly larger capacity, as up to two quarts (1.9 liters) of bone marrow and blood could be extracted from the donor or patient. The syringe for a bone marrow needle is also usually attached after the needle is inserted, rather than before the needle is inserted.
Bone marrow needles usually have a very different handle than those of other types of needles. There are several models from different manufacturers, but most have a sturdy handle to give the doctor the grip and leverage needed to force the needle tip into the bone. The needles also have a special removable inner section called a trocar. This is removed after insertion to allow the marrow to be removed, a process called bone marrow aspiration.
Sometimes a small amount of bone marrow needs to be extracted for a sample, called a biopsy, and the same type of needle is used for this procedure. During a bone marrow biopsy, the trocar is not removed and a small core of bone and marrow becomes trapped in the needle. This sample is then used for various medical tests, the results of which are useful for testing potential donors.
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