The Effect of Configuration of the Needle on the Postspinal Headache in Young Males of the Third Decade

Kim, Byung Gee

Abstract

The incidence of postspinal headache is one of the well known complications of spinal anesthesia. The development of postspinal headache is related to age and sex of patients, size and configuration of the needle, pregnancy, direction of needle bevel, number of dural puncture. I studied the effect of configuration and size of the needle (22 gauge 25 gauge Quinke needle and 22 gauge,25 gauge Whitacre needle ) on the incidence, onset, duration and severity of postspinal headache in the 200 males of the third decade after spinal anesthesia. The following results were observed: 1) The incidence of postspinal headache in 22 gauge, 25 gauge Whitacre needle groups(4%. 2%) is lower than that of 22 gauge, 25 gauge Quinke needle groups(10%, 8%). 2) The severity of headache was mild and moderate level in 7 cases, severe level in 2 cases of all the 9 cases with postspinal headache of Quinke needle groups but mild and moderate level in 3cases of all the 3 cases with postspinal headache of Whitacre needle groups. 3) The onset of headache was within 24 hours in 55.6% in Quinke needle groups, 100% in Whitacre needle groups and the duration of headache was within 5 days in 77.8% in Quinke needle groups, 100% in Whitacre needle groups postoperatively. 4) The sites of headache were 55.6% in frontal, 33.3% in occipital region in Quinke needle groups and 66.7% in frontal, 33.3% in occipital region in Whitacre needle groups. In conclusion, the headaches which occur following use of Whitacre needle have been lower in and of less severity than those seen after use of Quinke needle in young males of the third decade.