CT-guided bone biopsy: Initial experience with a commercially available hand held Black and Decker™ drill

PurposeTo describe the use of a simple commercially available Black and Decker™ hand based drill in performing CT-guided bone biopsies.Materials and methodsThree international institutions were enrolled in the study. In each centre, a fellowship trained musculoskeletal radiologist directed the assessment of a hand based commercial drill for performing CT-guided bone biopsies. A specially designed component was engineered which allowed the connection of a standard bone biopsy set to a commercial drill. The component was distributed to the three centres involved. Over a 3-year period, data from all three institutions was collected. Information regarding technical success, diagnostic data and complication rates were all collated to assess the technical feasibility of this technique.ResultsIn total 68 patients underwent bone biopsy using a hand held commercial drill. Technical success was achieved in 65 patients. Diagnostic material was obtained in 53 patients. Non-diagnostic material was obtained in 12 patients. Five out of the 12 patients with non-diagnostic material had repeat biopsies with diagnostic material obtained in 2 of these. No major complications occurred in any patient.ConclusionCT-guided bone biopsy using a hand held commercial drill has a technically high success rate with minimal complications.