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• Earlier examples of intraosseous drug and fluid administration
  Eskil Dalenius
  Published on: 30 May 2001

• Published on: 30 May 2001

  Earlier examples of intraosseous drug and fluid administration

  • Eskil Dalenius, Chief Medical Adviser

  Dear Editor,

  In his article, Dr Foëx sketched the history of intraosseous drug and fluid administration, citing Tocantins and co-workers as the pioneers of this technique. In all fairness, however, it should be pointed out that this method was indeed described, and used clinically, even earlier than that. In fact, one of the pioneers in this field, Henry Turkel, traces the experimental studies of the bone marrow...

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  Dear Editor,

  In his article, Dr Foëx sketched the history of intraosseous drug and fluid administration, citing Tocantins and co-workers as the pioneers of this technique. In all fairness, however, it should be pointed out that this method was indeed described, and used clinically, even earlier than that. In fact, one of the pioneers in this field, Henry Turkel, traces the experimental studies of the bone marrow for fluid infusion well back into the 19th century.[1]

  If an inventor can be identified for the use of the marrow for the administration of drugs and fluids, it is probably Cecil Drinker of Johns Hopkins University. As early as 1916, he demonstrated in the dog that the tibial marrow could be perfused with Ringers' solution.[2] In 1922, he published further studies, using also cats and rabbits.[3] Unfortunately, Tocantins and co-workers in their articles make little or no mentioning of these early findings.

  In 1934, Arnold Josefson, Professor of Medicine at Sabbatsberg Hospital, Stockholm, presented a series of more than 50 intraossal injections for the treatment of pernicious anemia.[4]

  During the Second World War, the intraosseous method appears to have been in quite widespread use by the U.S. Armed Forces.[5] It then disappeared from the adult scene, only to reappear during the 1990's, when more practical needles and devices became available (e.g. the Cook Sur- Fast needle, the Wais-Med Bone Injection Gun [B.I.G.], and the Pyng F.A.S.T. 1).

  Eskil Dalenius MD DEAA RSwAFMC

  References

  (1) Turkel H. Transfusion by way of the bone marrow. Int Med Dig 1956;68:117-121.

  (2) Drinker CK, Drinker KR. A method for maintaining an artificial circulation through the tibia of the dog, with a demonstration of the vasomotor control of the marrow vessels. Amer J Physiol 1916;40:514-521.

  (3) Drinker C, Drinker KR, Lund CC. The circulation in the mammalian bone marrow. Amer J Physiol 1922;62:1-92.

  (4) Josefson A. A new method of treatment - Intraossal injections. Acta Med Scand 1934;81:550-564.

  (5) Turkel H. Emergency infusion through the bone. Milit Med 1984;149:349-350.

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  Conflict of Interest:
  None declared.

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