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Home > Medical Reference > Encyclopedia (English)

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CSF cell count - Risks

What the risks are:

Risks of lumbar puncture include:

  • Allergic reaction to the anesthetic
  • Discomfort during the test
  • Headache after the test
  • Bleeding into the spinal canal
  • Infection

Brain herniation may occur if performed on a person with a mass in the brain such as a tumor or abscess. This can result in brain damage or death. For this reason, a lumbar puncture is not done if other tests show signs of a tumor or abscess.

There may be temporary leg discomfort if a nerve root is irritated by the needle. This passes when the needle is withdrawn.

  • Reviewed last on: 4/30/2007
  • Joseph V. Campellone, M.D., Division of Neurology, Cooper University Hospital, Camden, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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