Periprosthetic Joint Infection Following Acupuncture Treatment in a Patient With Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Rare but Severe Complication

An 81-year-old woman underwent total hip arthroplasty for a femoral neck fracture. Five days after surgery, she fell and sustained a periprosthetic fracture, for which she subsequently underwent revision surgery. Her postoperative course was uneventful; however, 4 years after surgery, she noticed redness and warmth over her left hip several days after receiving acupuncture. Purulent discharge subsequently developed, prompting her to visit our hospital. Imaging studies revealed abscess formation and osteolysis around the left hip, leading to a diagnosis of periprosthetic infection. After conservative treatments failed, surgical debridement and continuous local antibiotic perfusion therapy were performed. Her condition improved, and she was discharged home, ambulatory with a cane. Although serum inflammatory markers remained mildly elevated, suggesting a low-grade infection, there has been no recurrence of purulent discharge, and she has returned to her usual daily activities. Periprosthetic infection is a highly challenging complication, often resulting in the removal of implants and leading to a significantly diminished quality of life. Although acupuncture is generally regarded as safe, this case illustrates that deep infection can occur in patients with prosthetic joints. While a complete cure was not achieved in this case, the use of CLAP therapy contributed to clinical improvement and functional recovery, highlighting its potential role as an adjunctive treatment strategy. Given the potential risks of infection, physicians should inform patients with artificial joints about the potential infectious risks of acupuncture.