A Case of Acupuncture Induced Pneumothorax

With various forms of alternative medicinal practices gaining popularity, there is an increase in complications arising from these practices. Acupuncture, which originated in China, and now practiced worldwide as a form of traditional medicine, is generally considered safe; however, rare life-threatening complications can occur following its practice. Here we present the case of a 63-year-old male who presented to the emergency department with symptoms suggestive of pneumothorax. Upon further history, the patient disclosed that he had recently undergone acupuncture treatment for chronic elbow pain.