title: [Pneumothorax following dry needling treatment: legal and ethical aspects].
abstract: Trigger point "dry needling" is a technique used to treat myofascial pain. It involves using filiform needles which are inserted into muscles to give local pain relief. Few cases of serious adverse events following this treatment have been reported in the literature. In this paper we describe the case of a professional swimmer who developed pneumothorax after dry needling treatment and discuss the medicolegal and ethical aspects related to competencies and responsibilities of medical doctors and physiotherapists performing the procedure.
authors.affiliation: Unità Operativa Clinica dei pazienti del territorio, Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli, Università Cattolica del S. Cuore Roma, Italia.
authors.forename: Gianpaolo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ronconi
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Sanità Pubblica, sezione di Medicina legale, Università Cattolica del S. Cuore, Roma, Italia.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Giorgio
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Sanità Pubblica, sezione di Medicina legale, Università Cattolica del S. Cuore, Roma, Italia.
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.affiliation: Unità Operativa Clinica dei pazienti del territorio, Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli, Università Cattolica del S. Cuore Roma, Italia.
authors.forename: Loredana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maggi
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Bioetica, Università Cattolica del S. Cuore, Roma, Italia.
authors.forename: Antonio G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Spagnolo
authors.affiliation: Unità Operativa Clinica dei pazienti del territorio, Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli, Università Cattolica del S. Cuore Roma, Italia.
authors.forename: Paola Emilia
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Ferrara
mesh_terms: D026881:Acupuncture / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000941:ethics / Q000295:instrumentation; D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009209:Myofascial Pain Syndromes / Q000628:therapy; D009339:Needles; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000209:etiology*