A SMALL NEEDLE FOR AVOIDING LUMBAR PUNCTURE HEADACHE

Abstract

The accompanying illustration shows a 3 inch No. 24 gage Luer needle used for making spinal punctures. The sliding sleeve serves as a holder and prevents the bending and wobbling that would otherwise occur in performing lumbar puncture with a small caliber needle. The obturator is made of No. 0 cast steel music wire. The small needle is employed to reduce the size of the puncture-hole in the dura, and thus diminish the subsequent escape of spinal fluid into the tissues. Marked decrease in the incidence of postpuncture headache results. Before the lumbar puncture is performed, the obturator wire is withdrawn a short distance into the needle. When the spinal canal has been penetrated, the obturator can be pushed forward through the point of the needle. The obturator is then withdrawn, and the spinal fluid normally flows at a rate of from 16 to 24 drops a minute with the