Lumbar puncture: risks and complications.

Abstract

Lumbar puncture is a procedure commonly performed in the emergency department. This paper reviews the indications, contraindications and the complications of lumbar puncture such as post-lumbar puncture headache, traumatic tap and cerebral herniation. As well as highlighting the particular risks of lumbar puncture in different disease processes, this paper aims to provide physicians with an understanding of the procedure that will assist them in their clinical decision making. The role of computed tomography and medico-legal aspects of lumbar puncture are also discussed.