[Lumbar puncture--the post-puncture syndrome. Prevention with an "atraumatic" puncture needle, clinical observations]

Postlumbar puncture syndrome (PPS) is caused by continuous leakage of CSF through the dural puncture defect. While it has long been known that the symptoms are dependent on the diameter of the puncture needle, the influence of the needle point on the frequency of PPS has now also been examined. Following diagnostic and/or therapeutic lumbar puncture (LP) with Sprotte's "atraumatic" needle, the symptoms in 600 patients during a period of 8 days were recorded. In 92% of the patients LP involved no problems. In 7% the puncture was successful only at the second or third attempt. In 4 cases it was necessary to carry out the procedure under X-ray control. While the literature shows that PPS following lumbar puncture with a 21 G needle occurs in 30-40% of cases, only 3.6% of the patients complained about position-dependent headaches where the Sprotte needle was used. Nausea, dizziness and tinnitus were extremely rare (< 1%).--The "atraumatic" puncture needle reduces the frequency and the degree of PPS to the minimum and makes the lumbar puncture procedure possible on an outpatient basis.