Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Horse has a broken acupuncture needle near her toe - what to do?
By Trostle, Steven S et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2024·1Blue Ridge Equine Clinic·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Fragmented acupuncture needle as a linear metallic foreign body near the proximal interphalangeal joint of a horse.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A 9-year-old Warmblood cross mare was brought in with a small puncture wound and sensitivity around her front leg joint after receiving acupuncture. X-rays and ultrasound revealed a broken piece of an acupuncture needle lodged in the soft tissue near her joint. The mare underwent surgery to remove the needle fragment, guided by imaging techniques to ensure precise removal. She recovered well and was able to return to her normal activities without any complications.
People also search for: horse acupuncture needle removal · mare leg joint pain · foreign body surgery in horses
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of a fragmented, migrating acupuncture needle near the palmar proximal interphalangeal joint (PIPJ) of a horse. ANIMAL: A 9-year-old Warmblood cross mare. CLINICAL PRESENTATION, PROGRESSION, AND PROCEDURES: The mare presented for evaluation of a linear metallic foreign body on the palmar lateral aspect of the PIPJ following acupuncture treatment. The mare had a pinpoint puncture wound and sensitivity to palpation over the lateral aspect of the PIPJ region. The referring veterinarian performed radiographs and found a linear metallic foreign body near the lateral palmar PIPJ. Ultrasonographic examination demonstrated a hyperechoic lesion consistent with a metallic object in the soft tissues of the palmar lateral aspect of the PIPJ. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: The horse was anesthetized, and the linear metallic foreign body was removed. The use of intraoperative ultrasound and digital radiographs assisted in determining the location of and surgical approach to remove the foreign body. The linear metallic foreign body was the fragmented segment (body) of an acupuncture needle. The mare recovered from surgery uneventfully and returned to the previous level of activity. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This report demonstrates the potential risks of prolonged retention and or delayed removal of acupuncture needles in the form of needle fragmentation and migration. It also demonstrates the use of imaging in determining the location and position of small, thin metallic foreign bodies to aid in surgical approach and removal.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38718821/