Objectives: Tip design of spinal needle is one of the most important factors effecting the incidence of postspinal headache. We aimed to compare 25- G pencil point and 25-G ballpen spinal needles in terms of ease of usage, postspinal headache and backache rates..

Material and Methods: One hundred ASA I-II urologic surgery patients were randomized to Group P (Pencil point, 25-G Pencan needle) and Group B (Ballpen, 25-G Spinostar Ballpen needle). All patients received spinal anaesthesia in the sitting position. Perceptible click during the procedure and the identification time of cerebrospinal fluid after removal of the style were recorded. The anaesthetist evaluated the ease (easy, moderate, difficult, impossible) while patient evaluated the discomfort of the procedure using visual analogue scale. Postspinal headache and backache were recorded at 24 hours, 72 hours and 7 days postoperatively.

Results: No statistical significance was observed among patient demographics, perceptible click rates, identification time of cerebrospinal fluid, anaesthetist evaluations, patient evaluations, postspinal headache (in group P no pain at 24 hours, 2% at 72 hours and 7 days; in group B 4.4% at 24 hours, 6.6% at 72 hours and 2.2% at 7 days) and backache (in group P 10.4% at 24 hours, 8.2% at 72 hours and 4.1%at 7 days; in group B 13.7% at 24 hours, 15.2% at 72 hours and 2.2% at 7 days).

Conclusion: We propose that both spinal needles (25-G pencil point and 25-G ballpen) with diferent tip designs are similar in terms of ease of usage and postspinal headache and backache rates. ©2007, Firat University, Medical Faculty