Cervical Spinal Cord Injury Due to Direct Needle Damage During Acupuncture.

This case report from Korean researchers describes two rare but serious complications from acupuncture treatment for neck pain. Both patients developed cervical spinal cord injuries within hours of receiving acupuncture needles inserted around the neck area.

The first patient was a 35-year-old woman who experienced numbness and weakness in her left arm two hours after neck acupuncture. MRI scans revealed damage to her cervical spinal cord. She was treated with pain medication and physical therapy. After two years, her arm weakness improved significantly, though some numbness remained.

The second patient, a 48-year-old woman, also developed left arm pain and weakness two hours after acupuncture treatment. Her MRI also showed spinal cord injury. Within two months, her arm weakness improved considerably, but painful numbness persisted.

Both injuries appear to have resulted from needles penetrating too deeply and directly damaging the spinal cord tissue. The researchers emphasize that while such complications are extremely rare, doctors should always consider spinal cord injury when patients present with arm weakness and numbness, particularly if they recently received acupuncture around the neck or upper back.

For patients, this report highlights the importance of the neck region's delicate anatomy. The spinal cord runs through the cervical spine, and needles inserted too deeply in this area can potentially cause serious neurological complications. While acupuncture is generally safe when performed correctly, these cases demonstrate why proper training and technique are critical, especially for treatments around the neck and upper spine. If you're considering acupuncture, seek treatment only from properly licensed and credentialed acupuncturists who follow established safety protocols.

This case series documents two instances of iatrogenic cervical spinal cord injury following acupuncture needle insertion in the cervical region. Both patients (ages 35 and 48) presented within two hours of treatment with acute onset paresthesia and upper extremity weakness. MRI confirmed spinal cord lesions in both cases, with characteristic high-intensity and mixed-intensity signals respectively.

Both patients received conservative management with analgesics and physical therapy. Outcomes showed partial recovery: the first patient demonstrated significant motor improvement over two years with persistent sensory deficits, while the second showed marked motor recovery within two months but continued painful paresthesia. Neither case involved needle breakage or migration; injuries resulted from direct needle penetration into neural tissue.

Clinical implications include the necessity of maintaining high suspicion for c-SCI in patients presenting with acute unilateral upper extremity neurological deficits post-acupuncture, particularly following cervical treatments. The cases underscore critical safety considerations regarding needle depth, anatomical knowledge, and proper technique when performing cervical acupuncture. Practitioners should ensure adequate training in cervical anatomy and adhere strictly to safe needling depths in high-risk regions.