Evaluation of ultrasonograhic anatomy of spine and ease of spinal needle insertion in traditional sitting position versus cross leg sitting position in patients undergoing spinal anaesthesia - a randomized controlled trail

This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effect of patient positioning on ease of spinal anaesthesia. In 76 patients undergoing spinal anaesthesia will be allocated to either the traditional sitting position or the cross-leg sitting position. Pre-procedural ultrasound of the lumbar spine will be performed to assess the interspinous space at L3–L4. The primary outcome is the interspinous space distance measured by ultrasound. Secondary outcomes include number of insertion attempts, number of needle passes, space identification time and time required for successful lumbar puncture. The study will help determine whether the cross-leg sitting position provides any advantage over the traditional sitting position in facilitating spinal needle insertion.