[The incidence of postural headache in in- and outpatients following lumbar myelography (needles of different gauges and headache)].

The incidence is reported of postural headache and other types of headache arisen after myelography in a pilot sample of 540 patients, divided into 3 groups. The myelographic study was performed on the first two groups using 20 and 22 gauge needles, and with 25 gauge needles on the third group. 140 patients in the third group were treated on an outpatient basis, and 25 of them underwent myelo-CT. Myelography was performed on all the patients in the second and third group in erect position. In the authors' opinion, the erect position and the use of a fine needle determined a considerable reduction in post-myelographic side effects, i.e. postural headache.