Stylet injury syndrome

Failure to properly use the stylet when withdrawing a spinal puncture needle may cause aspiration of a lumbar nerve root and adjacent arachnoid, thereby fixing the nerve in the epidural space. Root fixation may cause a painful syndrome, requiring laminectomy and replacement of the nerve root within the subarachnoid space. Since laminectomy is rarely performed at the lumbar puncture site, the frequency of the syndrome remains undetermined.