The Ultrasound Guide to Understanding the Spine

By: Ritika Gudhe, MD

Remember that one lumbar puncture you couldn't get no matter who tried or how many times you tried? 

Or that patient with traumatic back injuries that sent their family member to you every 5 minutes to remind you of their pain?

....just me? All good. I want to pass on the education for the week so we can all understand spinal landmarks a little better, especially for nerve blocks or lumbar punctures.

For those of you interested in further information on spinal landmarks for nerve blocks, I am attaching my favorite table outlining ways to remember parts of the spine on ultrasound.

Finally, if you are interested in watching a VR-quality video on how to use ultrasound to understand basic spinal landmarks better, here is a link to a helpful video:

https://youtu.be/PD_-TKpzUg0?feature=shared

FAQ:

1. Can I use these tips on pediatric patients?

1. Absolutely. Remember to position them accordingly, and use age-appropriate landmarks.

2. Any more step by step guides to understanding nerve blocks for spine fractures?

1. Shameless plug for Sono in Staten 

2. NYSORA is a great detailed guide

3. Isn't it just easier to do Lumbar Punctures blind?

1. It can be. But it's important to have this in your toolkit on those especially tough cases, or if you are the last resort.