ArticleInternational journal of emergency medicine2016
A rare case of multiple spinal epidural abscesses and cauda equina syndrome presenting to the emergency department following acupuncture.
Article in International journal of emergency medicine, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.
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Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed, 11 citations in OpenAlex.
- Not So Innocent Procedure: A Spinal Epidural Abscess Following Acupuncture-A Case Report and Literature Review of the Past 28 Years.International journal of spine surgery · 2026Article
- Preliminary clinical study: percutaneous lumbar discectomy combined with external drainage for treatment of intervertebral disc infections with epidural abscess.Wideochirurgia i inne techniki maloinwazyjne = Videosurgery and other miniinvasive techniques · 2020Article
- Spinal Epidural Abscess: A Review of Presentation, Management, and Medicolegal Implications.Asian spine journal · 2020Article
- Cervical epidural analgesia complicated by epidural abscess: A case report and literature review.Medicine · 2017Review
- Thoracic Spondylodiscitis Epidural Abscess in an Afebrile Navy Veteran: A Case Report.Journal of chiropractic medicine · 2017Article
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Authors and funding
2 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundAcupuncture is a form of traditional Chinese medicine being increasingly used as complementary therapy in many countries. It is relatively safe and rarely associated with deep infections. CASE PRESENTATION: In this case report, we describe a middle-aged Chinese patient who presented acutely to our emergency department with cauda equina syndrome secondary to acupuncture-related epidural abscesses, which were treated with surgical decompression and intravenous antibiotics. We also present a review of case reports of this rare condition in available literature.
conclusionEmergency physicians should be aware that spinal abscesses may occur after acupuncture, with a broad spectrum of clinical presentations. If a history of recent acupuncture over the symptomatic area is elicited, a high index of suspicion should be maintained and appropriate imaging performed to establish the diagnosis. Treatment is directed by a number of factors, such as severity and duration of neurological deficit and progression of symptoms.
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