• Gerard McCarthy, Cathal O'Donnell, and Moira O'Brien.
• Department of Emergency Medicine, Cork University Hospital, Wilton, Cork, Ireland.
• Resuscitation. 2003 Feb 1; 56 (2): 183-6.

ObjectivesTo demonstrate that successful intraosseous infusion in critically ill patients does not require bone that contains a medullary cavity.DesignInfusion of methyl green dye via standard intraosseous needles into bones without medullary cavity-in this case calcaneus and radial styloid-in cadaveric specimens.SettingUniversity department of anatomy.ParticipantsTwo adult cadaveric specimens.Main Outcome MeasuresObservation of methyl green dye in peripheral veins of the limb in which the intraosseous infusion was performed.ResultsMethyl green dye was observed in peripheral veins of the chosen limb in five out of eight intraosseous infusions into bones without medullary cavity-calcaneus and radial styloid.ConclusionsSuccessful intraosseous infusion does not always require injection into a bone with a medullary cavity. Practitioners attempting intraosseous access on critically ill patients in the emergency department or prehospital setting need not restrict themselves to such bones. Calcaneus and radial styloid are both an acceptable alternative to traditional recommended sites.

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