Development of postdural puncture headache following therapeutic acupuncture using a long acupuncture needle.
Acupuncture appears to be a clinically effective treatment for acute and chronic pain. A considerable amount of research has been conducted to evaluate the role that acupuncture plays in pain suppression; however, few studies have been conducted to evaluate the side effects of the acupuncture procedure. This case report describes a suspected postdural puncture headache following acupuncture for lower back pain. Considering the high opening pressure, cerebrospinal fluid leakage, and the patient's history of acupuncture in the lower back area, our diagnosis was iatrogenic postdural puncture headache. Full relief of the headache was achieved after administration of an epidural blood patch.
Department of Neurosurgery, East-West Neo Medical Center, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Dae-Jean
DJ
Jo
Bong Jae
BJ
Lee
Joon Kyung
JK
Sung
Jae-Woo
JW
Yi
Acupuncture; Iatrogenic complication; Postdural puncture headache