title: Bilateral hand oedema related to acupuncture.
abstract: We report the case of bilateral hand swelling following acupuncture therapy for chronic low back pain. Despite thorough history, examination and laboratory testing no systemic cause for the swelling could be elicited. This case highlights the incomplete knowledge of acupuncture mechanisms and that limited acupuncture therapy can have significant adverse effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, Grampian University Hospitals NHS Trust, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, UK. colinmccartney@hotmail.com
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: McCartney
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Herriot
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Chambers
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004487:Edema / Q000209:etiology*; D006225:Hand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged