Surgical Treatment for a Broken Acupuncture Needle in the Retroperitoneal Space: A Case Report

Acupuncture is a well-known traditional medical procedure in Korea and is being increasingly used to treat various conditions including pain control, especially among the older generation. However, several problems related to acupuncture have been reported. A 27-year-old woman expressed that she had back pain occurring despite her posture. She received acupuncture therapy 2 months prior. We discovered a needle-shaped foreign material near the T12 vertebra body in the retroperitoneum. We extracted 2 pieces of deteriorated broken needles by laparoscopy. Postoperatively, the woman was discharged within 5 days with no complications. We report a patient that received laparoscopy with a full recovery after having severe back pain caused by a broken needle which was stuck in the retroperitoneum.