Ultrasound-assisted vs Palpation-guided Lumbar Punctures

Conditions

• Lumbar Puncture

Eligibility Criteria

Sex

ALL

Age

18 Years - N/A

Healthy Volunteers

Not accepted

Interventions

• Ultrasound-Assisted Lumbar Puncture — PROCEDURE
  Pre-procedural point-of-care ultrasound is used to identify the midline, appropriate interspinous space, and estimated needle depth. The selected insertion site is marked, after which lumbar puncture is performed using standard sterile technique and institutional protocols.
• Standard Palpation-Guided Lumbar Puncture — OTHER
  Anatomical landmarks are identified by palpation of bony landmarks to select the lumbar puncture insertion site. Lumbar puncture is then performed using standard sterile technique and institutional protocols without pre-procedural ultrasound localization.

Study Details

The goal of this randomized clinical trial is to determine whether ultrasound-assisted lumbar puncture improves first-needle insertion success compared with the standard palpation technique in adults undergoing a clinically indicated lumbar puncture. The primary question is whether pre-procedural ultrasound localization increases the likelihood of successful cerebrospinal fluid collection on the first needle insertion. The study will also evaluate overall procedural success, the number of needle insertions and redirections, procedure time, the need for subsequent image-guided lumbar puncture, traumatic tap, procedural and post-procedural pain, and post-dural puncture headache. Participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to undergo lumbar puncture using either pre-procedural ultrasound localization or standard palpation of anatomical landmarks.

Key Dates

First listed

Sep 17, 2026

Start date

Apr 25, 2026

Status verified

Sep 2026

Primary completion

Jun 30, 2028

Completion

Dec 31, 2028

Study Design

Enrollment

132 participants (estimated)

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

DIAGNOSTIC

Arms

• Experimental: Ultrasound-assisted
  Participants undergo pre-procedural point-of-care ultrasound to identify and mark the spinal midline, selected interspinous spaces and to estimate the depth to the target. The lumbar puncture is then performed using standard technique without real-time ultrasound guidance.
• Active Comparator: Standard Palpation-Guided
  The lumbar puncture insertion site is selected by palpation of anatomical landmarks without pre-procedural ultrasound localization. The lumbar puncture is then performed using standard technique.

Primary Outcome Measure

First Attempt Lumbar Puncture Success [ Time Frame: During the lumbar puncture procedure ]

Locations (2)

Find similar trials in Camden, NJ

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