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Volume 4, Issue 2

The Effect of Dry Needling on the Healing Process of Neuropathic Diabetic Foot Ulcers: Case Study of Two Patients

Fatemeh HasanNia1, Mohammad Reza Amini2, Mahnaz Sanjari2, Noureddin Nakhostin Ansari1,3, Jan Dommerholt4, Maedeh Khalifelou1 and Soofia Naghdi1*

1Department of Physiotherapy, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2Diabetes Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
3Research Center for War-Affected People, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
4Bethesda Physiocare, Bethesda, Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, USA

*Corresponding author: Prof. Soofia Naghdi, Department of Physiotherapy, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Enghelab Ave, Pich-e-shemiran, Zip: 11489, Tehran-Iran. E-mail: naghdi@sina.tums.ac.ir

Received: November 07, 2024; Accepted: November 26, 2024; Published: December 15, 2024

Citation: HasanNia F, Amini MR, Naghdi S, et al. The Effect of Dry Needling on the Healing Process of Neuropathic Diabetic Foot Ulcers: Case Study of Two Patients. Case Rep Orthop Surg J. 2024; 3(4): 143.

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The Effect of Dry Needling on the Healing Process of Neuropathic Diabetic Foot Ulcers: Case Study of Two Patients
Abstract

Background: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a severe complication of diabetes, primarily caused by peripheral neuropathy.
Objective: This case study reports the effect of dry needling (DN) on neuropathy and ulcer size in two patients with neuropathic DFUs.
Research Design and Methods: Two patients with DFUs unresponsive to conventional wound care received eight DN sessions. Evaluation tools included Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument (MNSI), Douleur Neuropathique 4 Questions (DN4), and neurothesiometer for neuropathy assessment. The ulcer area was measured using ImageJ software.
Results: Neuropathy symptoms improved notably according to MNSI, DN4, and neurothesiometer scores. Ulcer areas decreased significantly. In case 1, the ulcer area reduced by 65%, healing within two months. In case 2, a plantar ulcer healed after eight sessions of DN.
Conclusions: Eight DN sessions substantially reduced neuropathy and ulcer size, suggesting DN as a potential effective treatment for DFUs. Further studies with placebo control are warranted.

Keywords: Dry needling; Neuropathic diabetic foot ulcer

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