Never perform a lumbar puncture above the second lumbar vertebra (L2) to avoid injuring the spinal cord.

noli's read

This recommendation is based on solid anatomical foundations, as in adults, the spinal cord generally terminates at the L1 or L2 vertebra (conus medullaris). Standard clinical practice, confirmed by reference textbooks such as 'Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics' and protocols from the Société Française d'Anesthésie et de Réanimation (SFAR), confirms that it is imperative to perform the puncture below this level (typically between L3-L4 or L4-L5) to avoid any traumatic contact with nervous tissue. This is a fundamental safety rule taught in medical curricula (proven by expert consensus and descriptive anatomy). The statement is therefore factually accurate and consistent with safe practice standards. It is not an exaggeration, but a standard protective measure. There is no element here that is unproven or controversial in the anatomical literature.

the sources

No named source held this one up — that absence is part of the verdict.