Guidelines on Basic Training and Safety in Acupuncture: Section II: Safety in acupuncture: 3. Accidents and untoward reactions: 3.6 Stuck needle

Guidelines on Basic Training and Safety in Acupuncture
(1999; 35 pages) [French] [Spanish]

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Table of Contents

Acknowledgements
Introduction
	Basic training in acupuncture
	Safety in acupuncture
Section I: Basic training in acupuncture
	1. Purpose of the guidelines
	2. Use of acupuncture in national health systems
		2.1 Administrative and academic considerations
		2.2 Examinations and licensing
		2.3 Supervision, monitoring and evaluation
		2.4 Further education and career possibilities
	3. Levels of training
	4. Training programmes
	5. Training of acupuncture practitioners
		5.1 Acupuncture practitioners
		5.2 Entrance requirements
		5.3 Duration of training
		5.4 Objective
		5.5 Core syllabus in acupuncture
		5.6 Core syllabus in modern Western medicine
		5.7 Other related fields of health care
		5.8 Examination
	6. Full training in acupuncture for qualified physicians
	7. Limited training in acupuncture for qualified physicians
		7.1 Basic training
		7.2 Special courses
		7.3 Advanced training
	8. Limited training in acupuncture for primary health care personnel
	9. Selected acupuncture points for basic training
	10. Selected points for basic training in acupuncture
Section II: Safety in acupuncture
	1. Prevention of infection
		1.1 Clean working environment
		1.2 Clean hands
		1.3 Preparation of the needling sites
		1.4 Sterilization and storage of needles and equipment
		1.5 Aseptic technique
	2. Contraindications
		2.1 Pregnancy
		2.2 Medical emergencies and surgical conditions
		2.3 Malignant tumours
		2.4 Bleeding disorders
	3. Accidents and untoward reactions
		3.1 Needle quality
		3.2 Position of patient
		3.3 Fainting
		3.4 Convulsions
		3.5 Pain
		3.6 Stuck needle
		3.7 Broken needle
		3.8 Local infection
		3.9 Burning during moxibustion
	4. Electrical stimulation and laser therapy
	5. Injury to important organs
		5.1 Areas not to be punctured
		5.2 Precautions to be taken
	6. Patient records
Appendix
	1. Sterilization of acupuncture needles and equipment
	2. Methods of sterilization
	3. Disinfection
	4. Maintenance
Annex I: List of participants

3.6 Stuck needle

After insertion, one may find it difficult or impossible to rotate, lift and thrust, or even to withdraw the needle. This is due to muscle spasm, rotation of the needle with too wide an amplitude, rotation in only one direction causing muscle fibres to tangle around the shaft, or to movement by the patient.

The patient should be asked to relax. If the cause is excessive rotation in one direction, the condition will be relieved when the needle is rotated in the opposite direction. If the stuck needle is due to muscle spasm, it should be left in place for a while, then withdrawn by rotating, or massaging around the point, or another needle inserted nearby to divert the patient's attention. If the stuck needle is caused by the patient having changed position, the original posture should be resumed and the needle withdrawn.