Spinal tap

Spinal Tap (also known as a lumbar puncture) is a medical procedure where a needle is inserted into the lower part of the spine to collect cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for diagnostic testing or sometimes for therapeutic purposes.

Procedure

The patient is usually positioned on their side with their knees drawn up to their chest, or sitting and leaning forward. After local anesthesia is administered, a hollow needle is inserted in the midline between two lumbar vertebrae (usually between L3 and L4). The needle passes through skin, subcutaneous tissue, supraspinous and interspinous ligaments, the ligamentum flavum, the epidural space, the dura, the arachnoid, and finally into the subarachnoid space where the CSF is located.

Uses

The primary reason for a spinal tap is to help diagnose diseases of the central nervous system. This includes infections of the brain or spinal cord, such as meningitis or encephalitis; diseases of the immune system, like multiple sclerosis; or cancers of the brain or spinal cord. Sometimes a spinal tap is performed to inject anesthetic medications or chemotherapy drugs into the cerebrospinal fluid.

Risks and Complications

While generally safe, a spinal tap can cause complications such as headaches, infections, bleeding in the spinal canal, and damage to the nerves or spinal cord.

History

The first successful lumbar puncture was performed by the German physician Heinrich Quincke, who introduced the technique in 1891.

See Also

• Cerebrospinal fluid
• Meningitis
• Encephalitis
• Multiple sclerosis
• Heinrich Quincke

Spinal tap Resources
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