It’s a quick and fairly painless procedure in which your child’s doctor uses a needle to access her spinal canal and the cerebrospinal fluid that’s found floating in it. A lumbar puncture may be done to help diagnose conditions, effectively deliver medication, or measure/relieve pressure within the spinal canal.

A lumbar puncture is a test where a doctor uses a needle to get fluid from your child's lower back. This fluid is called cerebrospinal fluid, or CSF. Your child lies on their side and is held still, and a doctor puts a needle between the bones of the lower back. It does not go near the spinal cord.

The healthcare provider does a spinal tap by putting a needle into the lower back area. He or she removes a small sample of CSF from the spinal canal to be tested in a lab. The test does not damage the spinal cord or nerves. Within a few hours, your child’s body will make new fluid to replace what is removed.