• World Neurosurg · May 2019

    Case Reports

    Acupuncture induced cranial epidural abscess: Case report and review of the literature.

    • Stefano Maria Priola, Ali Moghaddamjou, Jerry C Ku, Shervin Taslimi, and Yang Victor X D VXD Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Division of Neurosurgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada..
    • Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Division of Neurosurgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: stefanopriola@gmail.com.
    • World Neurosurg. 2019 May 1; 125: 519-526.e1.

    BackgroundAcupuncture is a common form of alternative medicine that is used for pain control among other modalities of treatment. It is a relatively safe procedure, but complications, including those of infectious etiology, may still occur.Case DescriptionA 47-year-old immunosuppressed woman presented with fever, altered level of consciousness, dysphasia, and a left occipital subgaleal fluctuant mass after acupuncture for headaches in the same area. Imaging demonstrated subgaleal and epidural collection localized in the left occipital region. She underwent urgent surgical evacuation of both collections. Cultures from intraoperative specimens grew Streptococcus anginosus. The patient started targeted antibiotic treatment leading to complete recovery.ConclusionsTo our knowledge, this is the first report of intracranial abscess after acupuncture. Given the worldwide application of this alternative treatment, physicians, acupuncturists, and the general public should be aware of the possibility of this rare but serious complication.Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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