Orthopedic Management of Complications of Using Intraosseous Catheters

Intraosseous (IO) catheters have been used for vascular access in trauma and critically ill patients with increasing frequency in emergency departments and critical care units across the United States. Their use has long been accepted as a reliable method of obtaining vascular access in pediatric patients with difficult
intravascular access. Articles about the complications of using IO catheters are scarce. Although orthopedic surgeons are not likely to place an IO catheter in an emergency situation, they often become involved when complications of IO catheter use arise.

In a literature search, we identified 5,759 patients treated with IO catheters. The overall complication rate was 2.1%. In this article, we discuss the literature on IO
catheter complications and report 2 cases of orthopedic management of IO catheter complications.