Cutaneous Complications Associated With Intraosseous Access Placement

Area of Science:

• Emergency Medicine
• Trauma Surgery
• Vascular Access

Background:

• Intraosseous (IO) access is crucial for rapid fluid and medication delivery in critical care.
• Complications from IO access are typically rare, often cited below 1%.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the dermatologic sequelae and overall complication rate of intraosseous line placement.
• To identify any previously unreported complications associated with IO access.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective chart review of patients undergoing IO line placement.
• Data collected over 18 months at a level I trauma center.

Main Results:

• Identified an overall complication rate of 2.7%.
• Common complications included compartment syndrome and needle breakage.
• A novel cutaneous complication, traumatic bullae, was observed.

Conclusions:

• Intraosseous access, while life-saving, has a higher complication rate than previously reported.
• Awareness of potential complications, including traumatic bullae, is important for clinicians.