title: The self-pith.
abstract: We describe a middle-aged woman who inserted a sewing needle into her spinal cord in an attempt at performing her own acupuncture. Reports of neurologic injury are rare in the literature, despite the widespread use of acupuncture. This is the first case we have identified involving spinal cord injury from self-performed acupuncture.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Monash Medical Centre, Southern Health, Clayton, Melbourne, Australia. Douglas.Anderson@southernhealth.org.au
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Datta
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D009339:Needles; D012648:Self Care / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed