THE POSTLUMBAR PUNCTURE SYNDROME RELATED TO THE SHAPE OF THE LUMBAR PUNCTURE NEEDLE POINT

Postural headache, nausea, dizziness and cranial nerve symptoms are the most common and in everyday routine most important complications after lumbar puncture. They result from lowered cerebrospinal fluid pressure caused by persistent postpunctional leakage of CSF through the inflicted rent in the dura. Needle size is known to be of prime importance for the extent of the post lumbar puncture syndrome, whereas the effect of needle point shape on these complications has not yet been evaluated.