Fine-needle, negative-pressure lumbar puncture: A safe technique for collecting CSF

Analysis of CSF is an important component of clinical and research studies involving illnesses such as AD. In fact, longitudinal analysis of CSF may be vital to identify and track potential biological markers in people at risk for developing AD. However, recruiting initial and long-term participation of research subjects in lumbar puncture (LP)-based studies can be challenging, especially because the incidence of post-LP headaches (post-LPHAs) with traditional methods often exceeds 30%.1 Reduction of post-LPHAs through the use of small-diameter spinal needles is well documented,2 presumably due to reduced leakage of CSF from the smaller hole produced when the spinal needle traverses the dura.3-5⇓⇓ There is relatively little experience obtaining large quantities of fluid from small-diameter Whitacre spinal needles compared with the traditional 20-guage, Quincke needles. Therefore, we sought to determine whether research quantities of CSF could be withdrawn using small, atraumatic needles and negative pressure techniques without causing a significant increase in the rate of …