With a bone marrow aspiration/biopsy, a sample of bone marrow is generally taken from the hip bone under local anaesthesia. The sample is examined to determine the number and type of cells present and how they are developing.
Bone marrow aspirations are done in the first instance.
A hollow needle inserted through a small incision in the skin, then into the bone marrow in the hip bone.
A syringe is attached to the needle and used to aspirate the liquid portion of the bone marrow (Figure 5).
Source: Chad McNeeley – Navy News Service, 021204-N-0696M-180, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1337397
Bone marrow biopsies are performed using a larger surgical needle with a cylindrical blade called a trephine. This removes 1 or 2 cm of bone marrow core.
At the end of the procedure, the needle is removed and a dressing applied.
