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What is the difference in a lumbar puncture and a spinal tap?

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Answer:

It's the same. Two terms used for one procedure.

Or we may say that lumbar puncture is a spinal tap that is done in lumbar area, while spinal tap can also be performed right below the occipital bone (called suboccipital puncture).

All in all it's a procedure to obtain the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord.

First answer by Rizalbdg. Last edit by Rizalbdg. Contributor trust: 18 [recommend contributor ]. Question popularity: 12 [recommend question].

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Spinal Cord Injury

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Relevant answers:

How is the lumbar puncture or spinal tap performed?
Inserting a needle between the fourth and fifth lumbar vertabrae (L4-L5). In rare instances a physician may perform a spinal tap in the cervical spine.
What is the average cost of a Lumbar puncture or spinal tap for someone who is uninsured?
I don't know the answer personally, but I was just looking for an answer on the same question. I found a couple websites that might help, but the range appears to be pretty wide. One website says...
What is a spinal tap?
A medical procedure wherein a needle is inserted into the back to withdraw some spinal fluid usually to test for infection or tumor or high pressure. Often done when suspicious of meningitis in a...
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Where do you do a lumbar puncture?
Lumbar puncture is done at the level of L3 to L4.