Cerebrospinal fluid leakage after lumbar puncture in neonates: incidence and sonographic appearance.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this article is to review the incidence and sonographic appearance of cerebrospinal fluid leakage after lumbar puncture in the neonatal period. Thirty-three neonates underwent spinal sonography after diagnostic lumbar puncture. A total of 21 of these patients showed cerebrospinal fluid leakage into the epidural space extending from the level of the cauda equina to the lumbar (n = 9), the thoracic (n = 8), or the cervical (n = 4) region. In eight patients, the subarachnoid space was markedly compressed by the epidural fluid collection.


CONCLUSIONS
Cerebrospinal fluid leakage into the epidural space is a frequent complication of lumbar puncture in neonates and has a characteristic appearance on sonograms. Leakage after lumbar puncture must be differentiated from cerebrospinal fluid leakage due to perinatal meningeal injury. If cerebrospinal fluid leakage at the puncture site compresses the subarachnoid space, sonography assists in the performance of subsequent lumbar puncture.
Kiechl-Kohlendorfer
Ursula
U
Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Innsbruck, Anichstr. 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
Unsinn
Karin Maria
KM
Schlenck
Barbara
B
Trawöger
Rudolph
R
Gassner
Ingmar
I
D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid; D004824:Epidural Space / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013129:Spinal Puncture; D013131:Spine / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography