Cost comparison between the atraumatic and cutting lumbar puncture needles.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine which type of spinal needle is preferred from a cost perspective, taking into account costs of the spinal needle and treatment of postlumbar puncture headache. METHODS: A decision-analytic model was created to determine the cost of diagnostic lumbar punctures using atraumatic and cutting needles. We assumed a health care system perspective and based the analysis on the treatment of a patient facing event probabilities derived from prior studies. The economic outcome measure was the difference in estimated costs between the 2 needles. One-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses tested the robustness of the model. RESULTS: Lumbar puncture performed with the atraumatic needle is associated with an average cost savings of $26.07 per patient. Average total health care costs are $166.08 with the atraumatic needle, compared to $192.15 with the cutting needle. There is 94% certainty that the atraumatic needle is cost-saving compared to the cutting needle based on probabilistic sensitivity analysis. Use of the atraumatic needle over the cutting needle by neurologists alone may result in $10.4 million in cost savings to the US health care system per year. CONCLUSION: The atraumatic spinal needle is associated with an overall cost savings to the US health care system. The balance of costs and benefits favors the use of the atraumatic needle over the cutting needle for diagnostic lumbar puncture.

Headache rate and cost of care following lumbar puncture at a single tertiary care hospital.

BACKGROUND: American Academy of Neurology guidelines recommend the use of noncutting needles because of lower rates of headache following lumbar puncture in randomized trials. We sought to determine the rate of headache using cutting needles and the potential cost savings of switching to noncutting needles. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of all patients who had a lumbar puncture in the outpatient neurology clinic at a single institution between January 2004 and December 2005. Outcome data included occurrence of headache, back pain, or epidural hematomas within 2 weeks of the procedure. Costs associated with the use of the current system were compared with the projected costs of switching to a noncutting needle system. RESULTS: A total of 274 patients underwent lumbar puncture (62% women, mean age 53 ± 17 years, average weight 178 ± 43 pounds). Of these, 38 (14%) had a post-lumbar puncture headache. Eight patients (3%) reported back pain. No patients had an epidural hematoma. Twelve patients were admitted for a total of 18 hospital days, mainly for headache. Predictors of headache were younger age and no prior aspirin use. The rate of headache associated with the noncutting needle according to published literature is 4%. The estimated cost savings would have been approximately $20,000 per year (or approximately $73 per person). CONCLUSIONS: In this single-institution study, use of a noncutting needle would have potentially been associated with less adverse events and less cost. Further studies are warranted, including the possibility of premedication with aspirin.