The correct location for lumbar puncture in newborns is

In our lives, when many children are sick, if the cause of the disease cannot be found, the doctor will recommend a lumbar puncture for the child. In fact, lumbar puncture is very painful for children, especially for newborns. Not only is it difficult to grasp the baby's lumbar position, but it is also likely to cause the baby to be disabled for life. Therefore, you must be cautious before doing it. So where is the correct location for lumbar puncture in newborns?

It is generally not performed on newborns. If it must be performed, it must be done between 4 and 5 lumbar spine. Otherwise, it is easy to damage the spinal cord and cause paraplegia. A small and fine needle should be used for puncture, otherwise it is easy to cause cerebrospinal fluid leakage.

For infants and young children, the needle is inserted between the 4th and 5th lumbar intervertebral space. This is because the spinal cord of infants is relatively longer and is located lower than that of adults. Therefore, it must be between the 4th and 5th lumbar intervertebral space. Inserting the needle too high can easily injure the spinal cord.

For adults, the puncture point is the intersection of the line connecting the highest points of the iliac spine and the posterior midline, usually between the 3rd and 4th lumbar spinous processes, but can also be performed in the previous or next intervertebral space.

Lumbar puncture is one of the commonly used examination methods in neurology clinical practice. It is of great value in the diagnosis and treatment of neurological diseases, is simple and easy to perform, and is relatively safe to operate. However, if the indications are not properly grasped, it may aggravate the original condition in mild cases and even endanger the safety of the patient in severe cases.

Lumbar puncture is a procedure in which a needle is inserted into the space between L3 and L4 or between L4 and L5 to collect a sample of cerebrospinal fluid for diagnosis. Lumbar puncture can also be used for treatment. During a lumbar puncture, an increased pressure gradient between the cranial and spinal cavities may result in brainstem herniation. The doctor will perform a lumbar puncture based on the patient's condition, and the operation itself is very safe. Some people say that lumbar puncture will make children stupid, but there is no basis for this.