title: Auricular complication of acupuncture.
abstract: Auricular chondritis occurred in a patient following a course of auricular acupuncture administered to help the patient give up smoking. Despite immediate treatment the condition pursued a long course resulting in considerable morbidity and some deformity of the ear. Twenty months after presentation the ear is not completely stable. Acupuncture should be considered a form of penetrating trauma which may induce perichondritis or chondritis in the auricle.
authors.affiliation: Timaru Hospital.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Gilbert
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002357:Cartilage Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D004427:Ear Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D004431:Ear, External; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000074606:Smoking Prevention