Some people experience headache, backache or pain in the legs. You shouldn’t need to stay in hospital overnight, but someone should drive you home. You might be asked to lie down for an hour or more after the procedure, to prevent a headache. Once the procedure is finished, the needle will be taken out and a dressing will be put on the injection site. A small amount of fluid will be withdrawn. Once the area is numb, another needle will be put into your back, through the skin and between the bones of your spine to reach the fluid around your spinal cord. Your back will be cleaned thoroughly and a small amount of local anaesthetic injected into the lower back. You will be asked to keep very still, either lying on your side with your knees close to your chin, or seated. You should ask your doctor if there is anything you need to do to prepare. Usually, no preparation is needed for a lumbar puncture, but everybody’s situation is different. Lumbar puncture is also sometimes used to treat certain problems, either by injecting something into this fluid, or by removing some of the fluid. It can then be sent for laboratory testing. Why is a lumbar puncture performed?Ī lumbar puncture is performed to sample the fluid that sits around the brain and spinal cord, called cerebrospinal fluid or CSF. Lumbar puncture is sometimes called a ‘spinal tap’. This can help to diagnose and sometimes treat problems of the brain and spinal cord. Related information on Australian websitesĪ lumbar puncture involves putting a needle into the lower back to reach the fluid that sits around the spinal cord.
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