How is a bone marrow performed?
Typically, only a local anesthetic is required to numb the skin and tissue down to the surface of the bone. A small cut (less than one-quarter inch) is then made in the skin. A special needle is used to penetrate through the dense outer shell of bone. Once inside the bone, the center portion of this needle (the trochar) is removed and a syringe is attached. The bone marrow is withdrawn by pulling back on the plunger of the syringe and collecting the liquid. This sample is known as the marrow aspirate. This part of the procedure only lasts a few seconds, but is usually the most painful due to the sudden stimulation of small nerves inside the bone. A biopsy can also be obtained in addition to the marrow aspirate or when an aspirate cannot be obtained. The same needle is used but without the center portion in place. As the needle is twisted through the bone it cuts a core which is trapped inside the needle. Once the needle is removed, this core can be extracted from the needle barrel. Thi
