What are the complications of lumbar puncture?

Immediate
  • Failure
  • Bloody tap
  • Nerve root pain
Early
  • Post-dural puncture headache (PDPH)
  • Post-dural puncture herniation (very rare)
  • Spinal / epidural haematoma
  • Spinal cord ischaemia
  • Nerve damage (temporary or permanent)
  • Infection:
    • Local injection site
    • Epidural abscess
    • Meningitis (rare)
Late
  • Post-LP Back pain
  • Epidermoid tumour