title: Broken needle in the cervical spine: a previously unreported complication of Xiaozendao acupuncture therapy.
abstract: Xiaozendao (meaning "small-needle-knife," in Chinese) is a form of alternative medical instrument shaped like an acupuncture needle with a flat edge on the needle tip. It is widely used for the treatment of many different disorders in Asian countries, especially in the People's Republic of China. Its use has gained increasing popularity. To our knowledge, there are no reports of practitioners' experiences or adverse events related to "small-needle-knifed" therapy until now. We reported the first case of spinal-cord injury with delayed onset of neurologic symptoms from a broken small-needle-knife insertion into the spinal cord.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan., Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan. ani123@adm.cgmh.org.tw
authors.forename: Jiin-Tarng
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Liou
authors.forename: Fu-Chao
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Shi-Tai
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Hsin
authors.forename: Daniel Ching-Wah
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Sum
authors.forename: Ping-Wing
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Lui
mesh_terms: D015667:Acupuncture Analgesia / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000328:Adult; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D009339:Needles / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016602:Needlestick Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome