A Rare Complication Caused by Dry Needling Method: Tension Pneumothorax

Abstract

Tension pneumothorax, resulting in deterioration of cardiopulmonary function due to displacement of the mediastinal structures, is a fatal condition without early diagnosis and treatment. This article is a description of the case of a patient who developed iatrogenic bilateral pneumothorax and subsequent tension pneumothorax due to dry needling used in the treatment of myofascial pain.

A case with iatrogenic pneumothorax due to deep dry needling

“…DDN over the thorax is very likely to be associated with a higher incidence of pneumothorax [5] , [6] , [7] . Respiratory failure was reported in a patient with iatrogenic bilateral pneumothorax and subsequent tension pneumothorax due to dry needling used in the treatment of myofascial pain [8] .…”