Chronically retained acupuncture needles

Background: Complications from acupuncture are quite rare. Case: This report describes the case of an adult female who left an acupuncture treatment visit with a doctor as a result of unbearable pain. Six years later, on routine X-rays for dental examination, five embedded remnants of acupuncture needles were observed. Results: The patient was completely asymptomatic from the embedded needles, and did not know they were there. She did not respond to requests for further follow-up. Conclusions: Despite the retention of the needles for at least 6 years, there were no symptoms or clinical signs in this patient.