When cerebrospinal fluid flow goes wring, sometimes as a result of trauma to the head, a series of problems can occur. Increases pressure on the brain results in a brain tissue shift. This can cause restricted blood flow as a result of brain herniation.

CSF buildup caused by subarachnoid haemorrhage can cause hydrocephaly. This occurs when there is too much CSF in the ventricles of the brain. Symptoms of this include nausea, dizziness and headaches. The condition can be treated by inserting a tube into the brain in norder to drain the fluid.

The most common use of a lumbar puncture is to collect cerebrospinal fluid in the case of meningitis. The patient is usually placed in fetal position while a sample of cerebrospinal fluid is taken from lumbar vertebrae 3/4 or 4/5 using a spinal needle.

A lumbar puncture is only given if other tests for multiple sclerosis are inconclusive. 90% of cases are diagnosed using an MRI scan.