Acupuncture Embedding Complication: Second Report of a Rare Case

Abstract

Background: In traditional Chinese medicine, one of the modalities of treatment is embedding. Embedding is a method of acupuncture in which catgut is embedded in acupuncture points instead of needles. The current case report describes a rare complication of embedding, and this is the second case report on this modality. Case: A 46-year-old woman suffering from chronic vascular headache (migraine) was referred for acupuncture and embedding. One week after the procedure, she returned with complaints of severe tenderness on the site of embedding. There were tender subcutaneous nodules in the temporal areas of the head. These were diagnosed as suture granuloma, which is one of the rare complications of embedding and has good prognosis. Results: Embedding modality of acupuncture has satisfactory therapeutic effects in many patients but is sometimes accompanied with rare and serious complications. Conclusions: The current authors believe that this complication is a kind of aseptic inflammation and there is no need for any invasive procedure.