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When do you consider using a paramedian approach for a lumbar puncture?

1 Answers
Mednet Member
Mednet Member
Hospital Medicine · UTHealth San Antonio

I consider the paramedian approach for lumbar puncture in several clinical scenarios:

  • When patients are unable to adequately flex their spine.
  • When midline interspaces are narrow (<1 cm).
  • When ultrasound reveals densely calcified spinal ligaments—a common finding in elderly patients that can obscure...

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