Abstract： Objective To assess the effect of puncture direction on the successful rate and complications of lumbar puncture.Methods From Jan.2006 to Dec.2011,104 cases who were performed lumbar puncture were divided into A and B groups according to puncture direction,with 52 cases in each group.The success rate of lumbar puncture,the incidence of complications and the post-puncture blood pressure were recorded and compared.Results The success rate of lumbar puncture in group A was 78.8％ (41/52),lower than that in group B [92.3％(48/52)] (P ＜0.05).The incidence of headache and lumbodynia in group A and group B was 7.3％ (3/41),9.8％ (4/41) and 8.3 ％ (4/48),12.5 ％ (6/48) (P ＞ 0.05).The incidence of increasing of blood pressure in patients with successful puncture between group A and group B was not significantly different [52.4％ (22/41) vs 52.1％ (25/48),P ＞ 0.05].Conclusion Correct puncture method and direction can achieve a high successful rate and do not increase post-puncture complications of lumber puncture.