Safety of Acupuncture Using Semi-Permanent Needles in a Pediatric Cancer Unit: A Retrospective Study

Area of Science:

• Integrative oncology
• Pediatric oncology
• Complementary and alternative medicine

Background:

• Acupuncture is increasingly used in pediatric oncology.
• Safety data for semi-permanent needles in this population are limited.
• This study addresses the safety of semi-permanent needles during antineoplastic therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the safety of semi-permanent needles, alone or with filiform needles, in pediatric cancer patients.
• To assess infection and bleeding risks associated with acupuncture during chemotherapy.
• To determine the feasibility of integrating semi-permanent needles into pediatric oncology protocols.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of electronic medical records at a pediatric cancer center.
• Inclusion of all oncology patients treated with semi-permanent needles between September 2019 and September 2021.
• Primary outcome: safety assessment focusing on infection and bleeding risks, considering neutropenia and thrombocytopenia levels.

Main Results:

• 196 patients received 1107 acupuncture sessions.
• Needles were used in patients with neutropenia (33.4%) and thrombocytopenia (27.6%).
• No sepsis, local infections, or skin irritation reported; one superficial hematoma resolved spontaneously.

Conclusions:

• Semi-permanent needle acupuncture is a safe modality for pediatric oncology patients, including adolescents and young adults.
• The therapy can be safely integrated into integrative oncology protocols.
• This supports the use of semi-permanent needles in pediatric cancer care.