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Here’s a categorized summary of the types of adult lumbar puncture (LP) needles commonly used in clinical practice:
🔹 1. Quincke Needle (Cutting Tip)
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Tip Style: Bevel/cutting edge (sharp, angled tip)
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Use: Traditional spinal needle
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Advantage: Easier insertion through tough tissues
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Disadvantage: Higher risk of post-lumbar puncture headache (PLPH) due to larger dural tear
🔹 2. Whitacre Needle (Pencil-Point Tip)
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Tip Style: Non-cutting, pencil-point with side port
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Use: Atraumatic spinal procedures
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Advantage: Lower incidence of PLPH
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Disadvantage: Slightly more difficult to insert through firm ligaments
🔹 3. Sprotte Needle
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Tip Style: Atraumatic, rounded tip with lateral opening
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Use: Similar to Whitacre – used for spinal anesthesia and diagnostic LP
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Advantage: Minimizes dural trauma, reduces headaches
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Disadvantage: Can require more skill to guide properly
🔹 4. Greene Needle
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Tip Style: Blunt pencil-point
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Use: Less common; also reduces risk of PLPH
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Advantage: Blunt tip reduces dural trauma
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Disadvantage: May be more difficult to handle
🔹 5. Adjustable/Introducer Systems
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Often used with smaller gauge atraumatic needles
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Introducer needles help guide the LP needle through skin and soft tissues
Needle Sizes (Common Adult Gauges):
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22G–25G: Common for atraumatic use
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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.
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A
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