Evaluation of the effects of resting in appearance of post lumbar puncture headache

ABSTRACT

Lumbar puncture [LP] is a procedure for obtaining spinal fluid from spinal meningeal spaces this can be done as a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure which can result in to a typical positional headache named as post lumbar puncture headache .This can cause a lot of discomforts for patients and makes fear from the procedure. This study designed to evaluate the effect of resting position after LP on post lumbar puncture headache [PLPH]. Patients who had a diagnostic lumbar puncture were divided randomly in two groups .Group A patients had one hour rest in the supine position while group B patients had one hour rest in the prone position. Both groups followed for appearance of symptoms of PLPH for 5 days. 119 patients completed the study, 57 [48%] male patients and 62 [52%] female .PLPH totally appeared in 38 [31.9%] patients .In the group A PLPH was present in 20 patients whereas in group B it was present in 18 patients. Statistical analysis showed no significant differences between two groups [P>0.07]. Position of rest after LP has no significant effect on reducing post lumbar puncture headache and there is no need to emphasize on position of rest after LP