[Prospective comparative study of postspinal headaches in young patients (less than 51 years)]

1.009 patients (less than 51 years) were investigated for the frequency of postspinal headaches developing when using different types of needles (22 G and 25 G with Quincke-cut and 22 G Whitacre-needle). It was shown, as expected, that puncture with the smaller needles caused with 6% only about half as many headaches as did taps with the two bigger types of needles, which did not demonstrate any statistical difference between each other. After classifying the complaints as doubtful and definite postspinal headaches the rates of real headaches of the total series was about 5%. The highest frequency of complaints was reported by female patients in the 5th decade. An increase with lesser age was not noticed. Technical difficulties associated with spinal puncture were of almost no importance in influencing the rate of headaches. Definite bloody taps were associated with significantly higher complaint rates. The drugs used (mepivacaine and bupivacaine) did not appear to have any influence. An advantage of the more expensive Whitacre-needle is not seen except in patients with disturbances of coagulation factors.