[Complications of acupuncture therapy. A study of the literature from 1981-92]

This study presents the adverse affects of acupuncture as recorded in the Medline database for the years 1981-92. Pneumothorax is the most common mechanical organ injury caused, while hepatitis dominates the infections. Neither pneumothorax nor hepatitis is reported from any Nordic country. Most of the adverse effects of acupuncture seem to be associated with insufficient basic medical knowledge, a low standard of hygiene and inadequate education in acupuncture. The study confirms adverse effects of acupuncture in certain circumstances. Serious adverse effects are few, and acupuncture can be considered as a fairly harmless form of treatment.