• K Yokoyama.
• Department of Anesthesiology, Daiichi Hospital, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo.
• Masui. 1994 Mar 1; 43 (3): 418-20.

AbstractA healthy 34 year old, male (70.2 kg, 168 cm) had lower leg fracture during rugby football and was scheduled for open reduction and fixation. Spinal anesthesia was planned by using Sprotte 24 gauge needle. In the operating theater, patient was positioned for spinal tap on his right side up. The bony landmarks were difficult to palpate owing to difficulty in bending his back due to painful leg. The L3-4 interspace was approximated, and an 18-gauge introducer was inserted first, and then a 24-gauge Sprotte needle was advanced through the introducer until resistance was encountered and it then popped through the resistance. After the insertion of a Sprotte needle, the resistance to advancement increased. I thought this was due to tough ligamentum flavum, and transient increased pressure was applied. On attempting this, I felt funny loss of resistance. The Sprotte needle was withdrawn and was found to be a bent needle tip. The use of the Sprotte needle may present new patient hazards due to tip deformation or bending, which was demonstrated in this case. It has been reported that a smaller perpendicularly applied force is required to bend the tip of this needle than to bend Whitacre or Quincke needles of similar size. To prevent these hazards, introducer for the Sprotte needle should be placed in epidural space before the Sprotte needle insertion. Also a Sprotte needle should be placed in subarachinoid space deep enough to prevent failed spinal anesthesia. The tip of the Sprotte needle is weak enough to bend and may present a new patient hazards.

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