Dry Tap During Bone Marrow Aspiration for Musculoskeletal Treatments: Case Report and Proposed Management Algorithm
Michael Khadavi1,2, Alex Bourguignon3, Jules Mercier-Ross3
1Kansas City Orthopedic Alliance, KS.
Pain Medicine Case Reports
|May 1, 2026
Summary
A dry tap, or failure to obtain bone marrow during aspiration, is a rare complication in orthobiologic procedures. This case report proposes a management algorithm for this clinical challenge.
Area of Science:
- Orthobiologics
- Musculoskeletal Medicine
- Interventional Pain Management
Background:
- Bone marrow concentrate injections are increasingly used for musculoskeletal conditions.
- A 'dry tap' is the failure to obtain bone marrow during aspiration, a rare but clinically significant complication.
- The significance and management of dry taps in healthy patients undergoing orthobiologic procedures are not well-defined.
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