Question
While doing a this procedure (image) in an infant suspected of meningitis,you choose a lower inter-vertebral space than in an adult. Choose the TRUE reason.
A. The spinal cord extends up to lower border of L1 in an adult.
B. The spinal cord extends up to L4 in an infant.
C. The spinal cord extends till L3 in an infant.
D. The spinal cord extends up to the upper border of L2 in an infant.
Show Answer
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Correct Answer » C
Explanation
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Ans: C. The spinal cord extends till L3 in an infant
This procedure is Lumbar puncture
Though the first option is true it is not the answer to the question.
Lumbar puncture
- It is a procedure that is often performed to obtain information about the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
Lumbar puncture should be performed for the following indications:
- Suspicion of meningitis
- Suspicion of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH)
- Suspicion of central nervous system (CNS) diseases such as Guillain-Barré syndrome and carcinomatous meningitis
- Therapeutic relief of pseudotumor cerebri .
The spine of an infant at the time of birth differs from the adult spine.
- The conus medullaris (bottom of the spinal cord) terminates at the level of L1 in adults, but may extend in infants till L3.
- It is important to insert the spinal needle below the conus medullaris at the L3/L4 or L4/L5 interspinous levels.
- With growth of the spine, the conus typically reaches the adult level (L1) by 2 years of age.
