A 62-year-old Japanese woman received acupuncture for her sciatica. During one session she felt a sharp pain where the needle was inserted on the ‘Yoryosen’ point. Later, she noted a drop-foot on the same side. A neurologist noted L5 radiculopathy. Because a needle-like object was seen with imaging techniques, the woman was operated on and a needle fragment was retrieved, which had pierced the peroneal nerve. The patient made a good recovery but hyperaesthesia persisted.