We report a significant complication of acupuncture in a 50 year old woman who developed a pneumothorax shortly after receiving acupuncture needling to her scapulothoracic region in a lateral oblique direction. As acupuncture is increasingly being used in pain management, physicians need to be aware of its potential adverse effects. We discuss issues relating to appropriate counselling of patients receiving this form of therapy. The inner Bladder line should be needled obliquely towards the spine.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BowsherD.Mechanisms of acupuncture. In: FilshieJ, WhiteA Editors. Medical Acupuncture -A Western Scientific Approach.Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone; 1998. p. 69–82.
2.
GerwinRD. A study of 96 subjects examined both for fibromyalgia and myofascial pain. J Musculoskel Pain1995;3(Suppl 1):121.
3.
VickersA, ZollmanC.ABC of complementary medicine. Acupuncture. BMJ1999;319(7215):973–976.
4.
WhiteA.A cumulative review of the range and incidence of significant adverse events associated with acupuncture. Acupunct Med2004;22(3):122–33.
