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Effective Treatment of Small Uncomplicated Skin Abscesses with Fire Needle: A Case Series
Huan-Huan Zhang1, Chun-Min Zhang1, Qing-Qing Xu1
1Department of Dermato-Venereology, The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China.
Background:
Uncomplicated skin abscesses are collections of pus within the skin structure and are usually caused by bacterial infections. Clinically, they are quite common and inevitably affect people of any age. The current management strategies comprise prompt initiation of antibiotics and incision and drainage. However, pain and the long healing process of skin lesions can cause distress to a lot of patients. Fire needling is a characteristic treatment in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and has proven effective in treating skin abscesses. Moreover, fire needle therapy has a more desirable cosmetic outcome in contrast to surgical debridement. The purpose of the study is to demonstrate the rapid, effective, minimally invasive, and better cosmetic outcomes of fire needles in the treatment of uncomplicated skin abscesses.
Methods:
A total of 10 patients, aged between 1 and 45 years, with skin abscesses, were recruited. All patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria with lesions less than 4 cm in diameter were topically treated with mupirocin ointment twice a day after fire needle therapy. If the lesion was still purulent after 2 days, it was treated again with fire needle therapy. The efficacy was assessed by a 4-grade scale at 2 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 12 weeks post-fire needling.
Results:
Lesions with a diameter of less than 2 cm achieved significant remission (SR) or partial remission (PR), after 2 days post-treatment and reached complete remission (CR) or significant remission (SR) after 1 week following treatment. Meanwhile, lesions with a diameter of 2-4 cm achieved PR after 2 days and were assessed as CR or SR 1 week after post-fire needle therapy. None of the patients had a recurrence within 12 weeks after treatment.
Conclusion:
Fire needle therapy is a promising treatment method for uncomplicated skin abscesses smaller than 4 cm, which warrants further in-depth and more large-scale studies.
Insights
Fire needle therapy offers a rapid, minimally invasive treatment for skin abscesses, achieving significant healing within one week with excellent cosmetic results and no recurrence. This traditional Chinese medicine approach shows promise for uncomplicated skin abscesses.
Area of Science:
- Integrative Medicine
- Dermatology
- Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
Background:
- Uncomplicated skin abscesses are common bacterial infections requiring prompt treatment.
- Current treatments like antibiotics and incision/drainage can cause patient distress due to pain and prolonged healing.
- Fire needle therapy, a TCM technique, presents a minimally invasive alternative with potentially better cosmetic outcomes.
Observation:
- A study involved 10 patients aged 1-45 with skin abscesses treated with fire needle therapy.
- Lesions were treated with mupirocin ointment post-therapy and retreated if purulent after 2 days.
- Efficacy was assessed using a 4-grade scale at multiple follow-up intervals.
Findings:
- Skin abscesses under 2 cm diameter showed significant or partial remission within 2 days, and complete or significant remission by 1 week.
- Abscesses measuring 2-4 cm achieved partial remission in 2 days and complete or significant remission within 1 week.
- No recurrence was observed in any patient within 12 weeks post-treatment.
Implications:
- Fire needle therapy is a promising, effective, and minimally invasive treatment for uncomplicated skin abscesses up to 4 cm.
- The therapy demonstrates rapid healing and favorable cosmetic results compared to conventional methods.
- Further large-scale studies are warranted to validate these findings.
