Lumbar cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure was recorded in 115 outpatients who were not associated with any change in intracranial pressure and without any special disease entities either: of whom 65 subjects (Group I) with a intermittent low back pain used a 18 gauge needle, while for the rest of 50 subjects with mild head trauma who came to the emergency room who used 22-gauge needle (Group II ).
The CSF pressure was measured in a position of an excessive spinal flexion and then an adequately relaxed spine with the lateral recumbent position maintained all the while. After that Queckenstedt test was performed.
And then, CSF pressure recording was done after every 1 cc of CSF withdrawal until the withdrawal amounted to 5cc, the withdrawal rate being 1 cc/min. in both of the groups.
In this study, the normal CSF pressure obtained (thus) was compared with undistorted normal physiolgic CSF pressure.
The results obtained are as follows :
1. The average CSF pressure recorded under the condition of any possibility to cause any anxiety and tension was 152(±31) mm of CSF in group I and 159(±34)mm of CSF in group II .
2. In group I, for whom a 18-gauge needle was used, a lower value (152±31 mm of CSF) was obtained compared with the group I[ (159±34 mm of CSF) for whom a 22-gauge was used.
3. The CSF pressure recorded under condition of spinal hyperflexion(160±29 mm of CSF in group I and 184±34mm of CSF in group I[) was slightly higher than that recored in comfortable, relaxed state (152±31 mm of CSF in group I and 159±34 mm of CSF in group II ).
4. There was not any remarkable difference in CSF pressure above the age of 11.
5. The CSF pressure data obtained on CSF withdrawal amounitng to 5cc gave a linear pressure-volume curve and the amount of decreased pressure was 24 mm of CSF in group I and 21 mm of CSF in group II .
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