[Complications of the sternal puncture (author's transl)]

The case of a 57 year old female patient suffering from plasmocytoma with a sternal fracture after local puncture characterized by a late healing tendency is reported. According to the literature the complications of this diagnostic method, known up to now, are described with special emphasis to the pathomechanism and the clinical course of the mostly fatal sternal perforation with cardiac tamponade. Puncture of the iliac crest instead of the sternal region is recommended in cases with serious osteoporotic or osteolytic defects of the sternal bone.