We will contact you by phone prior to your lumbar puncture to discuss the procedure and answer any questions you may have. Your healthcare provider may have other reasons to recommend a lumbar puncture. Be sure to discuss any concerns with your healthcare provider before the procedure. There may be other risks depending on your specific medical condition. Very small risk of bleeding in the spinal canal. Short-term numbness or paresthesia of the legs or lower back pain may be experienced. You may have a slight risk of infection because the needle breaks the skin’s surface, providing a possible way for bacteria to enter the body. If the leak continues, your headache can be severe. This can cause headaches after the procedure. These include:Ĭontrast dye for X-ray studies - for example, myelography.Ī small amount of CSF can leak from the needle insertion site. The healthcare provider uses a special tube (called a manometer) to measures the pressure during a lumbar puncture.Ī lumbar puncture may also be done to inject medicine directly into the spinal canal. In addition, a lumbar puncture may be used to measure the pressure of the CSF. Pseudotumor cerebri (also called idiopathic intracranial hypertension, or IIH). After evaluation and head imaging if necessary, a lumbar puncture may be done to diagnose certain inflammatory conditions that can result in a headache. Diseases that attack the protective coating that surrounds certain nerve fibers - for example, multiple sclerosis or acute demyelination polyneuropathy. A disorder in which the body's immune system attacks part of the nervous system.ĭemyelinating diseases. A stage of syphilis during which the bacteria invades the central nervous system. An inflammation of the spinal cord or bone marrow. An inflammation of the brain that is usually caused by a virus.Ĭertain cancers involving the brain and spinal cordīleeding in the area between the brain and the tissues that cover it (subarachnoid space) The inflammation is usually the result of a viral, bacterial, or fungal infection.Įncephalitis. An inflammation of the membrane covering the brain and spinal cord. Excess CSF may also be removed in people who have an overproduction or decreased absorption of the fluid.Ī lumbar puncture procedure may be helpful in diagnosing many diseases and disorders, including: The clarity and color of the fluid are also checked, and it is tested to see whether bacteria, viruses, or abnormal cells are present. The fluid is tested for red and white blood cells, protein, and glucose (sugar), and occasional other specialized tests. This can help in the diagnosis of various disorders. The most common reason is to remove a small amount of CSF for testing. Then using Fluoroscopic guided imaging, a needle will be inserted into the spinal canal space to obtain the fluid.Ī lumbar puncture may be done for various reasons. Lidocaine will be injected into the skin and muscle tissue for anesthesia. The site will be marked and sterilely prepped. This allows the X-ray to move over the top of you and obtain images to best determine the site for the procedure. You will lie face down with pillow or a sponge under your abdomen, pelvis, or angled slightly while laying face down. This is the fluid that surrounds your brain and spinal cord to protect them from injury. During a lumbar puncture, a needle is inserted between two lumbar bones (vertebrae) to remove a sample of CSF. A lumbar puncture is performed in your lower back, in the lumbar region. radiotracer, chemotherapy agents) into the lumbar cistern of the spinal column. Fluoroscopy-guided lumbar puncture (spinal tap) is a minimally invasive, image-guided diagnostic and therapeutic procedure that involves the removal of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from, or an injection of medication or other substance (e.g.
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