Clin Pain.  2019 Dec;18(2):130-132. 10.35827/cp.2019.18.2.130.

Late-Onset Spinal Subdural Hematoma after Acupuncture

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Eulji University Hospital, Eulji University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea. jylimmd@eulji.ac.kr

Abstract

Acupuncture is generally regarded as a safe procedure and as a popular treatment for patients with musculoskeletal disorders. We report a case of a 47-year-old male patient with late-onset tetraplegia, developed after acupuncture. He had no trauma, medical, and social history relevant to tetraplegia. Right after the acupuncture, he felt discomfort in his right arm. After 6 days, all 4 extremity weakness developed. Whole-spine magnetic resonance imaging revealed the presence of spinal subdural hematoma extending from the C5 vertebra to the coccyx level. Hand coordination dysfunction, neurogenic bladder, and neuropathic pain were other symptoms. After the management, he recovered muscle strength, but incomplete bladder control and neuralgia were sustained. It is important to be aware of the possibilities of severe complications after acupuncture.

Keyword

Spinal subdural hematoma; Acupuncture

MeSH Terms

Acupuncture*
Arm
Coccyx
Extremities
Hand
Hematoma, Subdural, Spinal*
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Middle Aged
Muscle Strength
Neuralgia
Quadriplegia
Spine
Urinary Bladder
Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic
Full Text Links
  • CP
Actions
Cited
CITED
export Copy
Close
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Similar articles
Copyright © 2024 by Korean Association of Medical Journal Editors. All rights reserved.     E-mail: koreamed@kamje.or.kr