Extensive pyomyositis of prevertebral muscles after acupuncture: Case report

摘要

IntroductionSevere infectious diseases that require surgery after acupuncture therapy are quite rare. There are only a few cases of pyomyositis following acupuncture reported in the literature. This paper presents a case of cervical pyomyositis developed after such treatment.Case presentationA 36-year-old man presented with swelling and pain in the posterior cervical region as well as high fever and torticollis, after having received three sessions of acupuncture therapy during the preceding weeks aimed to treat his neck stiffness. Ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) and contrast-enhanced Computed Tomography (CT) were performed, which showed a large abscess along the paraspinal muscles. The symptoms were resolved after surgical treatment and antibiotherapy.ConclusionAlthough highly infrequent, pyomyositis is a probable complication of acupuncture. In order to minimise the risk of complications, strict hygenic precautions and knowledge of the human anatomy are mandatory to decrease the rate of complications of acupuncture.