Postdural puncture headache is not an age-related symptom in children: a prospective, open-randomized, parallel group study comparing a 22-gauge Quincke with a 22-gauge Whitacre needle

Many reports have shown a low incidence of postdural puncture headache (PDP H) and other complaints in young children. The objective of this open-rando mized, prospective, parallel group study was to compare the use of a cuttin g point spinal needle (22-G Quincke) with a pencil point spinal needle (22- G Whitacre) in children. We studied the puncture characteristics, success r ate and incidence of postpuncture complaints in 57 children, aged 8 months to 15 years, following 98 lumbar punctures (LP). The patient/parents comple ted a diary at 3 and 7 days after LP. The response rate was 97%. The incide nce of PDPH was similar, 15% in the Quincke group and 9% in the Whitacre gr oup (P = 0.42). The risk of developing a PDPH was not dependent on the age (r < 0.00, P = 0.67). Eight of the 11 PDPHs developed in children younger t han 10 years, the youngest being 23-months-old.