No significant effect of an "atraumatic" needle on incidence of post-lumbar puncture headache or traumatic tap.

We compared the incidence of post-lumbar puncture headache and of red blood cells in the first CSF sample (traumatic tap) in 35 inpatients punctured with a standard 20 G Yale needle and in 26 patients punctured with Sprotte's "atraumatic" needle. No significant difference was found between the two groups in incidence of headache or in frequency of traumatic taps.