Objectives: We studied the incidence of complications after diagnostic lumbar puncture (LP) related to needle type.
Material and methods: A 5 months' observational study of routine diagnostic LP in 83 patients was conducted.
Results: Significantly more headache was observed after LP using thicker cutting needles (20G Quincke) compared with thinner cutting or non-cutting needles (22G Quincke or pencil-point). No significant difference in complications after LP was found between the 22G Quincke and pencil-point needles.
Conclusion: The size of the needle and not the needle shape seems to be the main determinant for post-dural puncture headache (PDPH).