title: Pulsatile bleeding during closed vertebral biopsy.
abstract: Needle biopsy of the spine yields a higher diagnostic accuracy when large bore instruments are used. The Harlow Wood vertebral biopsy needle, for instance, has an internal diameter of 3 mm. However, pulsatile bleeding may occur, especially when a tumoral lesion is biopsied. The authors noted 9 pulsatile bleedings in 238 needle biopsies (3.8%). A piece of Surgicel, brought in with the trephine guide and the obturator, was an efficient treatment. A second piece of Surgicel, soaked in 1:10.000 adrenaline, was sometimes necessary.
authors.affiliation: 1st Orthopaedic Department, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Anastasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Christodoulou
authors.forename: Efthimios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Samoladas
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Givissis
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pournaras
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002483:Cellulose, Oxidized / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009339:Needles; D011673:Pulsatile Flow; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013131:Spine / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D002483:Cellulose, Oxidized; C013695:Surgicel