Woman's knee pain was caused by gold threads in her joints left behind by acupuncture - Earth.com

A 65-year-old South Korean woman sought medical help for severe knee pain, where X-rays revealed hundreds of tiny gold threads around her knee joints, remnants from a technique known as gold thread acupuncture. This method, aimed to provide extended stimulation for joint pain relief, raises significant safety concerns regarding the effects of embedded metals and complications in interpreting medical imaging. The X-rays also showed thickened bones and other joint issues, complicating the assessments necessary for evaluating and managing osteoarthritis. Although gold thread implantation is practiced in some East Asian countries, reports of complications like thread fragmentation and infections highlight the risks involved in these procedures. Evidence supporting its effectiveness remains limited and case-based, emphasizing the need for patients to be informed about potential consequences of these implants, including delayed access to more effective treatments. Ultimately, while seeking pain relief, patients should consider interventions with proven safety profiles to avoid complications that could impede future care.