No significant effect of an "atraumatic" needle on incidence of post-lumbar puncture headache or traumatic tap.
We compared the incidence of post-lumbar puncture headache and of red blood cells in the first CSF sample (traumatic tap) in 35 inpatients punctured with a standard 20 G Yale needle and in 26 patients punctured with Sprotte's "atraumatic" needle. No significant difference was found between the two groups in incidence of headache or in frequency of traumatic taps.
University Department of Neurology, University of Liège, Belgium.
M
M
Lenaerts
J L
JL
Pepin
S
S
Tombu
J
J
Schoenen
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009339:Needles; D013129:Spinal Puncture / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation*