title: [Infection of a hip prosthesis after dry needling].
abstract: A 57-year-old patient presented to the orthopaedic department with hip pain 7 months after hip replacement and two weeks after dry needling by a physiotherapist. Dry needling is used by physiotherapists to treat pain and stiffness. In the Netherlands, there are no clear guidelines or contra-indications described for this treatment. The surgical scar of our patient showed signs of inflammation for which debridement and irrigation were performed. Tissue samples showed positive bacterial cultures and the patient was treated with antibiotics. One week after completing this treatment, the infection returned. Debridement and irrigation were repeated and antibiotic treatment was recommenced. Three months later, the patient showed no signs of infection with the prosthesis still in situ. Although there is no strong evidence for a causal relationship between dry needling and the infection, dry needling should be used carefully in patients with a joint replacement, due to the increased risk of infection.
authors.affiliation: Westfriesgasthuis, Hoorn.
authors.forename: Koen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Steentjes
authors.forename: Lieke M A
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: de Vries
authors.forename: Ben U
authors.initials: BU
authors.lastname: Ridwan
authors.forename: A J Jurgen
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Wijgman
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000009:adverse effects; D003646:Debridement; D006622:Hip Prosthesis / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents