Temporary intralesional tamponade using a urinary bladder balloon catheter for bleeding in curettage of bone tumors

Background Medullary bleeding during curettage of bone tumors is often difficult to control, particularly in the proximal long bones in which tourniquet application is not feasible. Herein we describe the use of temporary intralesional balloon tamponade with a urinary bladder balloon catheter as an adjunctive hemostatic technique. Case presentation We present three cases in whom a balloon catheter was used to tamponade medullary bleeding. A deflated silicone-coated latex balloon catheter was inserted into the bone cavity and inflated to provide temporary mechanical tamponade. A 17-year-old female with a proximal femoral chondroblastoma associated with a secondary aneurysmal bone cyst underwent repeated curettage and balloon tamponade for severe medullary bleeding, followed by β-tricalcium phosphate grafting. A 49-year-old female with renal cell carcinoma metastatic to the proximal femur and a 61-year-old male with humeral metastases from gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma underwent curettage with balloon tamponade during preparation of bone cement. In all three cases, balloon tamponade effectively controlled diffuse medullary bleeding and did not result in procedure-related complications. Conclusions Temporary balloon tamponade is a simple and practical adjunct for hemostasis during bone tumor curettage.