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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Journal of Health and Allied Sciences NU 2017; 07(02): 066-068
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1708715
Case Report

The Charming Tale of Charm Needles!

Sham Kishor Kanneppady
1   Senior Lecturer, Division of Oral Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dentistry, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
,
Sowmya Sham Kanneppady
2   Senior Lecturer and Head, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Lincoln University College, Selangor, Malaysia
,
Anusha Rangare Lakshman
3   Reader, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Century International Institute of Dental Science and Research Centre, Kasaragod, India
,
Khoo Suan Phaik
4   Professor and Associate Dean, Division of Oral Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dentistry, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
,
Shishir Ram Shetty
5   Assistant Professor Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, College of dentistry, Gulf medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates.
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Abstract

Charm needles or susuk are needle-shaped metallic objects inserted subcutaneously in different parts of the body. The practice of inserting susuk is, an indisputably cultural and superstitious traditional belief common in the south-east Asian region, especially to the people of Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and Brunei. With increased use of diagnostic radiographs in dental or medical practice, the discovery of charm needles has become more frequent. We report one such case of charm needles inserted in oro-facial region which was discovered in routine dental radiograph, with emphasis on cultural and traditional belief.

Keywords

Susuk - charm needles - spiritual healing - traditional belief - panoramic radiograph


Publication History

Received: 04 March 2017

Accepted: 18 May 2017

Article published online:
22 April 2020

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Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Private Ltd.
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