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Determining the Spinal Canal Depth in Neonates Using Bedside Ultrasonography

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Abstract

Objective

To provide a gestation age- and weight-specific mathematical formula for predicting the optimal depth of spinal needle insertion.

Methods

The study included 127 neonates between 28 and 40 weeks of gestation and weighing 700 to 4000 grams, and a total of 202 ultrasound examinations were performed. Anterior and posterior borders were delineated using ultrasound and measured as spinal canal depth in lateral decubitus position at L3–L4 vertebral interspace. The mid-spinal canal depth (MSCD) was calculated.

Results

Spinal canal dimensions showed an increasing trend with an increase in weight and post-menstrual age of the babies. The best correlation was found between weight and MSCD with an r2 of 0.85, which is given by the formula MSCD (cm) = 0.2 × weight in kg + 0.45.

Conclusion

Knowledge of the spinal canal depth using the formula may facilitate accurate needle placement, thereby decreasing traumatic lumbar puncture.

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Funding

Funding: None

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neonatology, Manipal Hospital, HAL, Old Airport Road, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

    Nidhi Gupta, H. A. Venkatesh, Rajath Pejaver, Cherry Garg & Karthik Nagesh

Authors
  1. Nidhi Gupta
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  2. H. A. Venkatesh
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  3. Rajath Pejaver
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  4. Cherry Garg
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  5. Karthik Nagesh
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Contributions

Contributors: NG: Acquisition, primary analysis and interpretation of results, HAV: conceptualized the study, taught and supervised ultrasound skills and revised the manuscript, RP: provided critical inputs in the revision of the article, CG: literature search, drafted the primary manuscript, KN: provided critical inputs in the revision of the article.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to H. A. Venkatesh.

Ethics declarations

Ethics clearance: Ethical Committee of Manipal Hospital, Bengaluru; No. MHB/01/220950/90, dated Feb 12, 2022.

Competing interests: None stated.

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Gupta, N., Venkatesh, H.A., Pejaver, R. et al. Determining the Spinal Canal Depth in Neonates Using Bedside Ultrasonography. Indian Pediatr 60, 927–930 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13312-023-3038-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13312-023-3038-3

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