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How To Do Intraosseous Cannulation, Manually and With a Power Drill

By

Yiju Teresa Liu

, MD, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center

Reviewed/Revised Jul 2023
View PATIENT EDUCATION
Topic Resources

Intraosseous cannulation is the placing of a sturdy needle through cortical bone and into the medullary cavity—to emergently infuse fluids and blood products into critically ill patients.

Intraosseous cannulation has been most used in infants and young children, but power drill and spring-loaded devices that facilitate needle insertion through thick cortical bone have increased the use of this method in adults.

Indications for Intraosseous Cannulation

Contraindications to Intraosseous Cannulation

Absolute contraindications

  • Bone fracture or recent cannulation attempt; infused fluids will extravasate into soft tissues through the cortical defects

  • Injured inferior vena cava; use sites that drain into the superior vena cava

Relative contraindications

Complications of Intraosseous Cannulation

Complications are uncommon and include

Growth-plate damage has not been reported.

Equipment for Intraosseous Cannulation

  • Antiseptic solution (eg, chlorhexidine, povidone-iodine, alcohol)

  • Towels (rolled up)

  • Gloves

  • Intraosseous needles and sometimes insertion device

  • Syringes, 5 to 60 mL, based on anticipated need

  • Sterile saline, for flushes

  • Sterile gauze (eg, 10 cm × 10 cm squares)

  • IV connection tubing and fluids

Intraosseous needles have a stylet and usually an adjustable guard to control depth. Use a 25-mm long intraosseous needle for patients > 40 kg and a 15-mm long needle for patients < 40 kg. The needles may be available as part of a commercial kit with a powered insertion device similar to a cordless screwdriver/drill. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for choosing the appropriate size needle.

Optional equipment (if patient is conscious):

  • Local anesthetic (1% lidocaine without epinephrine, a 25- or 22-gauge needle, a 3- or 5-mL syringe)

  • Intramedullary anesthetic (2% lidocaine, preservative-free IV solution)

Relevant Anatomy for Intraosseous Cannulation

Insertion sites for adults

Insertion sites for children

  • In children < 6 years old, the proximal tibia is the preferred site. The needle is placed on the broad, flat anteromedial surface 1 to 3 cm distal to the tibial tubercle.

  • The distal femur is an alternate site. The needle is inserted 2 to 3 cm above the lateral femoral condyle, in the midline and angled 10 to 15 degrees cephalad. The thick overlying soft tissue and muscle may make it difficult to palpate the bony landmarks in this location.

  • For older children, the medial surface of the distal tibia 2 cm above the medial malleolus may be easier.

Positioning for Intraosseous Cannulation

  • Position the patient supine on the stretcher.

  • Place a towel roll behind the knee if the proximal tibia or distal femur is to be cannulated.

Step-by-Step Description of Intraosseous Cannulation

Prepare the equipment and the insertion site

  • Pre-flush all IV lines and connecting tubes with normal saline.

  • Put on gloves, face mask, face shield, and other personal protective equipment as needed.

  • Prepare a syringe with 5 to 10 mL sterile saline in it.

  • For insertion-site anesthesia, draw 3 to 5 mL of 1% lidocaine into a syringe and attach the 25-gauge needle.

  • For medullary space anesthesia, draw 3 to 5 mL of 2 % preservative-free IV lidocaine into a syringe.

  • Prepare the manual needle or the power drill (eg, screw the stylet securely into the needle and attach the assembly to the drill, and set any insertion depth limiters appropriately to the patient’s age and size).

  • Swab the area of skin around the cannulation site with antiseptic solution, using outwardly expanding concentric circles. For children, include both the proximal tibia and distal femur in the swabbed area.

  • Allow the antiseptic solution to dry for at least 1 minute.

  • From this point forward, nonsterile items are forbidden from the anticipated needle-insertion site.

Anesthetize the needle insertion site

For a conscious patient:

  • Inject 3 to 5 mL of 1% lidocaine into the skin and soft tissues along the anticipated needle-insertion path, including the periosteum.

Intraosseous (IO) needle insertion

The physician’s fingers and thumb are wrapped around the proximal tibia to stabilize it; the hand should not be placed directly behind the insertion site (to avoid self-puncture). Instead, a towel may be placed behind the knee to support it. The physician holds the needle firmly in the palm of the other hand, directing the point slightly away from the joint space and growth plate. The needle is inserted with moderate pressure and a rotary motion, which is stopped as soon as a pop indicates penetration of the cortex. Some needles have a plastic sleeve, which can be adjusted to prevent them from being pushed too deeply into or through the bone.

Intraosseous (IO) needle insertion

Insert the intraosseous needle

  • Palpate the insertion site with your nondominant hand.

  • Stabilize the insertion site, by wrapping your nondominant hand around the extremity near the site. Do not place your hand directly behind the insertion site (to avoid self-puncture).

  • Firmly hold the drill or the manual needle in your dominant hand.

  • Position the needle tip at the point of insertion, perpendicular to the long axis of the bone.

  • Point the needle slightly (10 to 15 degrees) away from the joint space and growth plate.

Manual insertion

  • Stabilize the needle shaft at the skin surface with an index finger, to help you stop the needle's advance once the cortex is penetrated. Some needles have an adjustable plastic sleeve for this purpose.

  • Advance the needle with moderate pressure and a to-and-fro rotary, coring motion. Advance along a straight path, so that the hole will be as narrow as possible (to prevent fluid extravasation).

  • Stop advancing the needle when you feel the pop (sudden loss of resistance) that indicates penetration through the cortex and into the medullary space, to prevent the needle from being pushed too deeply into, or through, the bone.

How To Insert an Intraosseous Infusion Line Manually
VIDEO

Insertion using a power drill

  • Penetrate the skin: Squeeze the trigger, and apply gentle pressure to penetrate the skin.

  • Advance the needle: Continue to squeeze the trigger while applying steady, downward pressure against the resistance of the cortical bone.

  • Immediately release the trigger and stop advancing the needle when you feel the sudden loss of resistance that indicates entry into the medullary space.

  • Detach the drill from the needle, keeping the needle in place.

How To Insert an Intraosseous Line Using a Power Drill
VIDEO

Confirm intramedullary needle placement

  • Seeing the needle remaining upright without support is the first sign of proper needle placement.

  • Remove the cap and the stylet, attach pre-flushed extension tubing, and aspirate. Free return of blood (marrow) confirms correct intramedullary placement.

    If no marrow is aspirated, push 5 to 10 mL of normal saline through the needle.

    If you feel resistance to the push and see or palpate local swelling (extravasation), remove the needle and cannulate another bone.

Begin intramedullary infusion

  • First, instill intramedullary anesthesia (for a conscious patient): In adults, slowly (over 2 to 3 minutes) infuse 2 mL of 2 % preservative-free IV lidocaine (40 mg), may repeat 20-mg doses until pain stops (maximum total dose 100 mg [5 mL]). For children, slowly infuse 0.5 mg/kg (0.025 mL/kg) for a maximum of 20 mg (1 mL). Wait 1 minute, and then flush with 5 to 10 mL of normal saline.

  • Begin the infusion. (IV fluid flowing freely without extravasating into surrounding tissues is another sign of correct needle placement.)

Dress the site

  • Wrap sterile gauze about the needle entry site and securely tape in place; commercial intraosseous kits may contain specialized dressings.

  • If needed, immobilize the extremity to further protect the site.

Aftercare for Intraosseous Cannulation

  • For recurring medullary pain from the infusion, repeat the slow 2% lidocaine infusion and saline flush as described above, using one-half of the initial lidocaine dose every hour as needed.

  • Intraosseous delivery systems should be removed as soon as practical after peripheral or central IV access has been achieved and within 24 hours of insertion (ideally within 3 to 4 hours). Pull out the needle using a steady clockwise rotation. Attach a locking cap or an empty syringe to the needle hub to afford a better grip if needed.

  • After needle removal, apply a sterile occlusive dressing. Chlorhexidine-impregnated discs at the insertion point and transparent membrane dressings are commonly used.

Warnings and Common Errors for Intraosseous Cannulation

  • When the tip of the intraosseous needle first contacts the bone surface, at least 5 mm of the needle should be visible outside the skin so that the needle tip will be able to reach the marrow cavity. If the needle does not extend that far, a longer needle may be needed.

  • Avoid drilling until the needle hub is flushed with, or indenting into, skin surface. This can cause damage and skin necrosis.

Tips and Tricks for Intraosseous Cannulation

  • Rapid infusion of crystalloids (eg, normal saline) as well as infusion of viscous fluids should be done using a pressure bag, manual injection, or an infusion pump.

Reference

  • Panchal AR, Bartos JA, Cabañas JG, et al. Part 3: Adult Basic and Advanced Life Support: 2020 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care. Circulation 2020;142(16_suppl_2):S366-S468. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000916

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