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Journals / Eurasian Journal of Critical Care / 2026 / Cilt: 8 Sayı: 1

A rare complication following combined dry needling and cupping therapy: Pneumothorax

Kuru İğneleme ve Kupa Terapisinin Birlikte Uygulanması Sonucu Nadir Görülen Bir Komplikasyon: Pnömotoraks

Ahmet Taha Özatak(SAĞLIK BİLİMLERİ ÜNİVERSİTESİ, İSTANBUL BAĞCILAR SAĞLIK UYGULAMA VE ARAŞTIRMA MERKEZİ, DAHİLİ TIP BİLİMLERİ BÖLÜMÜ, ACİL TIP ANABİLİM DALI)0000-0003-1848-4077
Liljana Mehmetaj(SAĞLIK BİLİMLERİ ÜNİVERSİTESİ, İSTANBUL BAŞAKŞEHİR ÇAM VE SAKURA ŞEHİR SAĞLIK UYGULAMA VE ARAŞTIRMA MERKEZİ, DAHİLİ TIP BİLİMLERİ BÖLÜMÜ, ACİL TIP ANABİLİM DALI)0000-0002-7049-9914
Pages
55–58
Publication Date
2026-05-02
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Emergency physicians should utilize advanced imaging, such as CT or ultrasound, for early diagnosis in symptomatic patients.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:Abstract Introduction: Dry needling and cupping therapy are widely utilized for musculoskeletal pain.
📊
Key Findings & Data:Case Report: A 36-year-old female presented to the emergency department with sudden chest pain and dyspnea four hours after receiving combined dry needling and cupping therapy for back pain.
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Conclusion & Impact:Emergency physicians should utilize advanced imaging, such as CT or ultrasound, for early diagnosis in symptomatic patients.
🔬Design:Olgu Sunumu
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Kuru iğneleme · kupa tedavisi · pnömotoraks

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: Dry needling and cupping therapy are widely utilized for musculoskeletal pain. While generally safe, thoracic applications carry the risk of iatrogenic pneumothorax. We present a rare case of pneumothorax following the combined application of these therapies. Case Report: A 36-year-old female presented to the emergency department with sudden chest pain and dyspnea four hours after receiving combined dry needling and cupping therapy for back pain. Physical examination revealed decreased breath sounds on the right hemithorax. Chest X-ray and Computed Tomography confirmed a large right-sided pneumothorax. Tube thoracostomy was performed. The patient was discharged on the fourth day with full recovery. Conclusion: The combination of deep needling and the negative pressure of cupping may create a synergistic risk for pleural injury. Emergency physicians should utilize advanced imaging, such as CT or ultrasound, for early diagnosis in symptomatic patients.

Özet

Özet Giriş: Kuru iğneleme ve kupa tedavisi, kas-iskelet ağrıları için yaygın olarak kullanılmaktadır. Genellikle güvenli olmakla birlikte, torasik uygulamalar iyatrojenik pnömotoraks riskini taşır. Bu tedavilerin birlikte uygulanmasının ardından ortaya çıkan nadir bir pnömotoraks vakasını sunuyoruz. Vaka Raporu: 36 yaşında bir kadın, sırt ağrısı için kombine kuru iğneleme ve kupa tedavisi aldıktan dört saat sonra ani göğüs ağrısı ve nefes darlığı ile acil servise başvurdu. Fizik muayenede sağ hemitoraksta solunum seslerinde azalma saptandı. Göğüs röntgeni ve bilgisayarlı tomografi, büyük bir sağ taraflı pnömotoraksı doğruladı. Tüp torakostomi uygulandı. Hasta dördüncü günde tam iyileşme ile taburcu edildi. Sonuç: Derin iğneleme ve kupa tedavisinin negatif basıncının birleşimi, plevral yaralanma için sinerjik bir risk oluşturabilir. Acil servis hekimleri, semptomatik hastalarda erken tanı için BT veya ultrason gibi gelişmiş görüntüleme yöntemlerini kullanmalıdır.

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Cite This Article

Özatak, A. T., Mehmetaj, L. (2026). A rare complication following combined dry needling and cupping therapy: Pneumothorax. Eurasian Journal of Critical Care, Cilt: 8 Sayı: 1, 55–58. https://doi.org/10.55994/ejcc.1888813

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