Version July 2025
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What are discharge instructions? —
Discharge instructions are information about how to take care of yourself after getting medical care for a health problem.
What is a bone biopsy? —
This is a procedure to check an abnormal area of a bone.
A bone biopsy looks at the outer layers of the bone. It is different from a bone marrow biopsy, which looks at cells in the middle of the bone.
There are different types of bone biopsies. You might have had a:
●Needle biopsy – The doctor uses a needle to remove a small sample of cells.
●Open biopsy – The doctor makes a cut ("incision") over the area of the bone and takes a small sample of cells.
How long it will take for you to recover, and what you need to do, depends on which type of biopsy you had. If you had a needle biopsy, you might be able to return to your normal activities sooner. With an open biopsy, it usually takes longer to recover.
How do I care for myself at home? —
Ask the doctor or nurse what you should do when you go home. Make sure you understand exactly what you need to do to care for yourself. Ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.
You should also:
●Take all your medicines as instructed.
●Take non-prescription medicines to relieve pain, such as acetaminophen (sample brand name: Tylenol), ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil, Motrin), and naproxen (sample brand name: Aleve). You can use these instead of opioids.
●Take care of your biopsy site – Depending on the type of biopsy, you might have stitches, skin staples, surgical glue, or a special skin tape on your incision:
•Keep the area dry and covered with a bandage for the first 1 to 2 days. Your doctor or nurse will tell you exactly how long to keep it dry.
•Once you no longer need to keep your incision dry, gently wash it with soap and water whenever you take a shower. Do not put it underwater, such as in a bath, pool, or lake. This can slow healing and raise your chance of getting an infection.
•After you wash your incision, pat it dry. Your doctor or nurse will tell you if you need to put an antibiotic ointment on it. They will also tell you if you need to cover it with a bandage or gauze.
•If you have stitches or staples, you will need to have them taken out. Your doctor will usually want to do this in 1 to 2 weeks. Some stitches absorb on their own and do not need to be removed. If the doctor used skin glue or skin tape, it will fall off on its own. Do not pick at it or try to remove it yourself.
•Always wash your hands before and after you touch your incision or bandage.
●Ice can help with pain and swelling – Put a cold gel pack, bag of ice, or bag of frozen vegetables on the area every 1 to 2 hours, for 15 minutes each time. Put a thin towel between the ice (or other cold object) and your skin. Ice for at least 6 hours after the biopsy. It might help to ice longer, even up to 2 days.
●Increase your activity slowly –The doctor might want you to mostly rest for the next 1 to 2 weeks, depending on the type of biopsy you had. This might include limiting lifting, sports, and activities that could cause rough contact to the biopsy area.
●Call your doctor or make an appointment to talk about your biopsy results. The results are usually available within a few days to a week after a biopsy.
When should I call the doctor? —
Call for advice if you have:
●A fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or chills
●Drainage, redness, or swelling around the biopsy site
●Bleeding or severe pain at the biopsy site
Patient education: Bone biopsy (The Basics)
Patient education: Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy (The Basics)
Patient education: Bone cancer (The Basics)
Patient education: Chondrosarcoma (The Basics)
Patient education: Ewing sarcoma (The Basics)
Patient education: Paget disease of bone (The Basics)
Patient education: Osteomyelitis in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Osteomyelitis in children (The Basics)
Patient education: Paget disease of bone (osteitis deformans) (Beyond the Basics)
