Lumbar punction: comparison between an atraumatic and a traumatic punction needle

Background: Lumbar puncture is a standardized, routine diagnostic procedure in the diagnosis of neurological diseases. Post-duarl puncture headache (PDPH) is a common complication which occurs in 10 to 30 % of patients. Although the incidence of PDPH is much lower with the use of small, non-cutting needles, neurologists in Slovenia routinely use the classical traumatic spinal needles. Methods: In the article we provide an overview of a research concerned with the use of traumatic and atraumatic needles in the procedure with the emphasis on complications of the lumbar puncture. We present American and European recommendations for lumbar puncture procedure. Conclusions: International recommendations for neurologists advise the use of atraumatic spinal needles for lumbar puncture. We recommend to Slovenian neurologists to start using the atraumatic needles for elective lumbar punctures and hence provide neurological patients with better quality and cheaper long-term care.