What is a Lumbar Puncture?
A lumbar puncture (LP) is also known as a spinal tap. An LP entails the placement of a needle into the lower back, between the bones of the spine. This is done either with you lying on your side curled up in the fetal position or sitting upright and rounding your back. The skin and underlying tissues of the lower back are injected with numbing medicine. After the skin has been appropriately cleansed, a needle is inserted into the lower back into the fluid-containing sac that surrounds the spinal cord and nerve roots. The needle is inserted below the level of the spinal cord so there is no risk of damage to the spinal cord.
