Possibility and Risk of Medication Vial Coring in Interventional Spine Procedures

When a needle is inserted into the stopper of a medication vial, small pieces of the stopper could be “cored” inside the bore of the needle, consequently aspirated, and then injected into the body. Reported coring rates vary from 3.1% to 97%. This article reviews the literature surrounding this topic and covers the rate of coring, its risk factors, and particle size, as well as prevention techniques to maximize safety during interventional procedures.