Cervical epidural suppurative infection following acupuncture treatment of neck pain: a case report.

The article focuses on a case of cervical spinal epidural abscess (SEA) following acupuncture treatment for neck pain in a 74-year-old man with hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus. SEA is a rare but serious infection of the central nervous system that can result from invasive procedures like acupuncture, especially in high-risk patients. The patient developed progressive neurological deficits after eight acupuncture sessions, leading to diagnosis by MRI and CT, followed by surgical intervention and antibiotic therapy targeting Escherichia coli identified in the abscess. The report highlights the importance of strict aseptic technique during acupuncture, early imaging for timely diagnosis in vulnerable populations, and the need for standardized safety protocols to prevent such complications.