title: Who Performs Lumbar Puncture, How Many Do They Perform, How and Why? A Retrospective Study of 6,594 Cases.
abstract: The number and indications of lumbar punctures (LPs) performed nowadays are unknown. The primary aim of this work was to report the number of LPs performed in each of the departments of 2 French university hospitals, their indications and the prevalence of atraumatic spinal needles used.
  
  
  
  We carried out a retrospective study of all the LPs performed in 2014. The clinical department in which the intervention was performed and the final diagnosis was made from the Medical Information Department. The type of needles (cutting or atraumatic) used during the study period was also available.
  
  
  
  In 2014, 6,594 LPs were performed. Overall, 80% were performed for diagnostic purposes. Twenty percent of these LPs were performed in the Neurology Department and were usually carried out at routine check-ups. Overall, atraumatic needles were used in 8.0% of cases. Overall, 1.4 LPs per 100 hospital stays were performed and 0.8 LP for 100 Emergency department admissions.
  
  
  
  LP is a routine procedure for many clinicians and although neurologists perform the largest number of LPs, they are doing only one fifth of all procedures. Atraumatic needles are underused.
authors.affiliation: Clermont Universitx00E9;, Universitx00E9; d'Auvergne, Neuro-Dol, Inserm U1107, Clermont-Ferrand, France.
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Moisset
authors.forename: Aurélie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ruet
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brochet
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Planche
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jaffeux
authors.forename: Véronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gilleron
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ong
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Clavelou
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D009339:Needles; D000072141:Neurologists; D051299:Post-Dural Puncture Headache; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013129:Spinal Puncture / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*