ADVERSE EVENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THERAPEUTIC DRY NEEDLING

Area of Science:

• Physiotherapy
• Musculoskeletal Medicine
• Clinical Research

Background:

• Limited research exists on adverse events specifically related to Therapeutic Dry Needling (TDN).
• Existing data on adverse events is often extrapolated from acupuncture, despite differences in application and mechanisms.
• There is a need for specific investigation into TDN-related adverse events.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and document the types of adverse events associated with Therapeutic Dry Needling (TDN).
• To quantify the incidence of both minor and major adverse events during TDN procedures.

Main Methods:

• A prospective questionnaire-based study involving 420 physical therapists.
• Data collected over six weeks from 20,464 TDN treatment sessions via self-reported electronic surveys.
• Surveys focused on minor (pain, bleeding, bruising) and major (pneumothorax, prolonged aggravation) adverse events.

Main Results:

• A total of 7,531 minor adverse events were reported (36.7% of treatments), with bleeding (16%), bruising (7.7%), and pain (5.9%) being most common.
• Twenty major adverse events were reported (0.097% or 1 per 1,024 treatments).
• No correlation found between adverse event frequency and practitioner experience, training, or patient load.

Conclusions:

• Minor adverse events like bleeding, bruising, and pain are common in TDN.
• Major adverse events associated with TDN are infrequent, indicating a small overall risk.
• Awareness of potential adverse events is crucial for physical therapists and medical practitioners utilizing TDN.