INCIDENCE OF POST DURAL PUNCTURE HEADACHE AMONG THE PATIENTS OF AGE 30 TO 70 YEARS UNDERGOING ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY UNDER SPINAL ANESTHESIA AT KHYBER TEACHING HOSPITAL, PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN

Objectives of Study: The objectives of this study is to determine the incidence of post dural puncture headache among the patients of age 30 to 70 years and to determine the frequency at different age group of district Peshawar. Materials and Methods: The hospital based cross sectional study was conducted using convenience sampling technique. A total of 127 patients were randomly selected after taking written inform consent. The International Headache Society Criteria was used for diagnosing the PDPH. Any case with no contraindications to spinal anesthesia was included in the study, While all cases with contraindications to spinal anesthesia such as refusal, emergency, coagulopathy, infection, bleeding was excluded. Results: In the current study, the overall occurrence of PDPH was 18.9%. The female patients was more effected from PDPH which were 25% and 16.1 % male population was affected. Two groups were created 30-50 years and 51- 70 years in which the incidence was 20% and 17.3% respectively. Conclusion: CSF leaks was the most important factor in triggering the PDPH. In our study population the most needle gauges used were 22G, 24G, and 25G. If we use less diameter spinal needles, pencil point needles and avoid cutting point needles with the support of an experienced anesthetist. Due to applications of all these techniques we can decrease the incidence of PDPH.