YP LP NEEDLES

 A

Here’s a categorized summary of the types of adult lumbar puncture (LP) needles commonly used in clinical practice:

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🔹 1. Quincke Needle (Cutting Tip)

• Tip Style: Bevel/cutting edge (sharp, angled tip)

• Use: Traditional spinal needle

• Advantage: Easier insertion through tough tissues

• Disadvantage: Higher risk of post-lumbar puncture headache (PLPH) due to larger dural tear

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🔹 2. Whitacre Needle (Pencil-Point Tip)

• Tip Style: Non-cutting, pencil-point with side port

• Use: Atraumatic spinal procedures

• Advantage: Lower incidence of PLPH

• Disadvantage: Slightly more difficult to insert through firm ligaments

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🔹 3. Sprotte Needle

• Tip Style: Atraumatic, rounded tip with lateral opening

• Use: Similar to Whitacre – used for spinal anesthesia and diagnostic LP

• Advantage: Minimizes dural trauma, reduces headaches

• Disadvantage: Can require more skill to guide properly

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🔹 4. Greene Needle

• Tip Style: Blunt pencil-point

• Use: Less common; also reduces risk of PLPH

• Advantage: Blunt tip reduces dural trauma

• Disadvantage: May be more difficult to handle

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🔹 5. Adjustable/Introducer Systems

• Often used with smaller gauge atraumatic needles

• Introducer needles help guide the LP needle through skin and soft tissues

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Needle Sizes (Common Adult Gauges):

• 22G–25G: Common for atraumatic use

• 20G–22G: More common for diagnostic or therapeutic LP with higher CSF flow rate

Let me know if you want a comparison chart, a visual guide, or clinical recommendations.