What is a common post-procedure complication following a lumbar puncture?

After a lumbar puncture, one common complication that can arise is a headache. This is often referred to as a post-lumbar puncture headache and occurs due to the leakage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the puncture site in the dura mater. When CSF leaks, it can lead to decreased pressure in the spinal canal, which typically results in a headache that can be positional in nature—worsening when the patient is in an upright position and alleviated when lying down.

Headaches following a lumbar puncture may present as throbbing or intense, and patients may also experience symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light or sound. This complication usually resolves on its own over time, but in some cases, additional interventions, such as a blood patch, may be needed to alleviate the symptoms.

Other complications such as hypothermia, polyuria, or seizures are not typically associated with the lumbar puncture process itself. Hypothermia is generally related to temperature regulation issues in the body rather than the puncture. Polyuria is a condition of excessive urination that does not directly relate to lumbar puncture complications, while seizures are rare and are not a common result of the procedure. Thus,