Development of postdural puncture headache following therapeutic acupuncture using a long acupuncture needle

Abstract

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.

Keywords: Acupuncture; Iatrogenic complication; Postdural puncture headache.

Fig. 1

Cisternography confirming cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage. Five foci of CSF leakage on the left side at the lumbar level (from L1 to L5) and a small amount of CSF leakage on the right side at the L5 level were observed.