title: Calculating lumbar puncture depth in children.
abstract: Lumbar puncture was performed in 195 children and the depth of needle was recorded. Our results show that the depth of lumbar puncture necessary to obtain uncontaminated cerebrospinal fluid correlates best with the child's weight. The simple formula: mean depth of insertion (cm) = 1.3 + 0.07 x body weight (kg), can be used to estimate the depth of lumbar puncture of children older than 3 months. The depths of lumbar puncture of children younger than 3 months are mostly 1.0-1.5 cm.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Ervina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bilić
authors.forename: Ernest
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bilić
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dadić
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boban
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000886:Anthropometry; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D013129:Spinal Puncture / Q000379:methods*