Lumbar puncture
A lumbar puncture is a medical procedure where a needle is inserted into the lower part of the spine to test for conditions affecting the brain, spinal cord or other parts of the nervous system.
A lumbar puncture is most often used to diagnose certain conditions that affect the brain and spinal cord.
Many lumbar punctures are carried out after being admitted to hospital in an emergency.
Lumbar punctures are generally very low-risk procedures. However, they sometimes cause short-lived side effects.