Before getting into the details of a bone marrow biopsy procedure, it is important to fully understand the role played by bone marrow in our bodies. The bone marrow is a spongy material that is located in the center of most of the bones within the human body. This material is primarily in charge of the production of red blood cells, platelets and white blood cells. A bone marrow biopsy procedure is usually performed along with an aspiration – which is the sampling of liquid, as well. A bone marrow biopsy procedure can be performed for a number of reasons.

For instance, a bone marrow biopsy may be performed in an attempt to identify the root cause of a certain infection as well as in the diagnosis of a number of serious medical conditions such as leucopenia and anemia.  Essentially, a bone marrow biopsy procedure is performed in order to identify whether the bone marrow is healthy and producing normal amounts of blood cells.

The bone marrow biopsy procedure pain can be rather significant if anesthesia is not administered properly as the sample is taken from the hip bone in adults or the tibia in children. Bone marrow biopsy procedure in children as well as adults will be precluded by a number of medical tests that gauge the patient’s heart rate, temperature and blood pressure. In order for the test to be carried out, the area where the sample will be extracted from is cleaned with the help of an antiseptic and injected with a local anesthetic. Once the site has numbed, the doctor will insert a needle with an attached syringe, deep into the bone and pulls the plunger back to allow a vacuum to develop and pull some of the marrow into the syringe before it is withdrawn for examination. A sterilized bandage is then applied over the site and pressure is applied to prevent excessive blood loss. The patient will then be requested to lie down until his or her blood pressure, heart rate and body temperature have returned to normal. The site of entry of the needle should be kept dry for a minimum of about 48 hours in order to prevent any infection from developing in the region.

Because of the fact that bone marrow biopsy procedures are performed on an outpatient basis, no special preparation is required. The entire procedure is usually completed in a matter of minutes and while it is only natural to experience some amount of anxiety and stress, you should try and relax as the anesthesia administered will nullify almost all the pain.