The Incidence of Chronic Headache and Low Back Pain After Accidental Dural Puncture (ADP) With a Tuohy Needle and Epidural Blood Patch in the Obstetric Population: A Prospective 2-group Cohort Multicentre Study

Headache can be a complication after insertion of an epidural needle for pain relief during labour. The headache is called Post Dural Puncture Headache (PDPH). PDPH causes significant short-term disability, prevents mobilisation, affects childcare activities and results in prolonged hospital stay. Initial treatment involves painkillers and if patient fails to respond, an Epidural Blood Patch (EBP). EBP involves taking patient's blood and injecting into the epidural space. It is generally agreed that PDPH is a self-limiting condition and resolves in two weeks. However there is emerging evidence that patients with PDPH could be at an increased risk of developing longstanding (chronic) headaches. Retrospective case studies show that between 28 - 34% of patients who developed PDPH had longstanding headaches at 18 months after the insertion of the epidural. There is also recent evidence of new onset low back pain developing in patients who have received an epidural blood patch that was performed to treat PDPH. Nearly two thirds of patients from a hospital in UK had new onset low back pain after they had received epidural blood patch treatment. Presently, there is no prospective clinical study evaluating the development of longstanding headaches and new onset low back pain after the development of PDPH.

Aim of the present study is to evaluate the incidence of longstanding headache after accidental dural (ADP) puncture and the incidence of new onset low back pain after epidural blood patch treatment.

Methods: The proposed study is a prospective, cohort study that will be conducted at six centres (Leicester, Derby, Bradford, Colchester, Bedford and Cambridge) over 36 months. Index participants who suffer ADP will be matched with control participants who have received an uneventful epidural insertion. The index and control participants will be matched for age, body weight, parity and the type of delivery. Mothers who have longstanding headache or low back pain will be excluded form the study. After providing written consent, the participants will be provided with a questionnaire pack containing three sets of two questionnaires to be completed at 6, 12 and 18 months after developing the headache as well as stamped envelopes to return the questionnaires to the research team. A research team member will perform telephone follow up 6, 12 and 18 months to encourage completion of the questionnaires. Participation in the study will end at 18 months after completion of the study questionnaires.