Lumbar Puncture/Spinal Tap

GENERAL INFORMATION

A lumbar puncture is also called a spinal tap. It is done to test samples of the fluid that surrounds your brain and spinal cord. This fluid is called cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). This test can be used to look for signs of infection, inflammation, or cancer in the nervous system. It is also used to look for signs of bleeding in the space around the brain. Or it can be done to measure the pressure on the brain. Sometimes a spinal tap is done to remove fluid as treatment for various disorders. This procedure will be done by or supervised by one of our Radiologists.

What happens during the procedure?

A lumbar puncture is a common test. It usually isn’t more painful than getting a shot. Your skin will be cleaned with an antiseptic solution. The healthcare provider will then use Lidocaine to numb a small area of skin on your lower back. He or she will insert a very small spinal needle there. 

The provider will place the needle between the bones of your lower spine, and into the spinal canal below the end of the spinal cord. There is very little danger of harming the spinal cord during this procedure. X-rays are used to guide where to put the needle. The provider will take out some spinal fluid and collect it in tubes. Then he or she will remove the needle. The procedure often takes about 10 to 15 minutes. It can take longer if you have problems related to positioning or degenerative changes in the spine. 

Risks of the procedure:

All medical procedures have risks. The risks of this test are small compared with the dangers of not diagnosing certain conditions. After-effects are not common after a lumbar puncture. But they may include: 

• Bruising. It’s possible to break a small blood vessel near the skin during the procedure. There may be bruising. This is not a serious problem. It will go away on its own.

• Infection. Skin bacteria can infect the puncture site. To help prevent this, your skin is cleaned with an antiseptic solution. And only sterilized tools are used.

• Headache that gets worse. In some cases, the lumbar puncture may cause a headache. Or it can cause an existing headache to get worse. This may happen if spinal fluid leaks internally from the puncture into the spinal canal. When you get home, rest as your healthcare provider tells you to. Lie flat and drink plenty of fluids. This may help ease a headache if you have one. For some people, the headache continues and needs treatment with a blood patch. This is an injection of your own blood into the puncture site.

• Bleeding. You have a small risk of minor bleeding where the needle is put through the skin. This bleeding usually stops with mild pressure by your healthcare provider. You also have a small risk of bleeding around the spinal canal, but this is rare. Rarely, bleeding could injure nerves or spinal cord from pressure inside the spinal canal. If you have a condition that causes you to bleed easily or are taking blood thinners such as Heparin, Lovinox, Brilanta, Eliquis, Aspirin, or Plavix, these must be stopped before the procedure.

• Back pain. You may have back pain, usually where the needle is inserted. This can happen after the procedure. This usually goes away after 1 to 2 days. You can treat it with an over-the-counter pain medicine.

• Nerve or spinal cord injury. In very rare cases, has been reported resulting in pain, numbness, paralysis, loss of bladder, bowel or sexual function