Inferior-Medial Dry Needling at the Thoracolumbar Junction: A Cadaveric Study
# Background Dry needling (DN) has emerged as a popular therapeutic intervention for managing musculoskeletal pain. While major adverse events are generally rare, those that have been reported in vulnerable areas such as the spine and thorax can be serious and warrant further investigation regardin...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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North American Sports Medicine Institute
2024-10-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.26603/001c.123477 |
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| author | Christi L. Williams Sue E. Curfman Stacey R. Lindsley Christian R. Falyar Ryan C. McConnell |
| author_facet | Christi L. Williams Sue E. Curfman Stacey R. Lindsley Christian R. Falyar Ryan C. McConnell |
| author_sort | Christi L. Williams |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | # Background
Dry needling (DN) has emerged as a popular therapeutic intervention for managing musculoskeletal pain. While major adverse events are generally rare, those that have been reported in vulnerable areas such as the spine and thorax can be serious and warrant further investigation regarding safe techniques in and around these areas.
# Purpose
The purpose of this study was to reproduce the methods employed by Williams et al. but with an inferior-medial multifidus DN technique to determine if a dry needle can penetrate the ligamentum flavum (LF) and breach the spinal canal at the thoracolumbar junction.
# Study Design
Descriptive Cadaveric study.
# Methods
The procedure was performed on a cadaver in the prone position. The needle was advanced under ultrasound guidance to determine if a 0.30 x 40 mm dry needle inserted lateral to the spinous process of T12 and directed inferior-medially could penetrate the LF and enter the spinal canal.
# Results
A 0.30 x 40 mm dry needle inserted 1.9 cm lateral to the spinous process of T12 was able to traverse the space between the vertebral laminae of T12 and L1, penetrate the LF, and enter the spinal canal with an inferior-medial needle angulation of 33-degrees medial and 18-degrees inferior.
# Conclusion
The results of this study demonstrate the feasibility of a dry needle entering the spinal canal at the thoracolumbar junction using an inferior-medial technique. These findings support the potential role of ultrasound guidance in the training and clinical practice of DN, especially in regions where safety issues have been documented.
# Level of Evidence
Level IV. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-532fb8f3f7bd42eea19233c84519eebe |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2159-2896 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-10-01 |
| publisher | North American Sports Medicine Institute |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy |
| spelling | doaj-art-532fb8f3f7bd42eea19233c84519eebe2025-02-11T20:26:57ZengNorth American Sports Medicine InstituteInternational Journal of Sports Physical Therapy2159-28962024-10-011910Inferior-Medial Dry Needling at the Thoracolumbar Junction: A Cadaveric StudyChristi L. WilliamsSue E. CurfmanStacey R. LindsleyChristian R. FalyarRyan C. McConnell# Background Dry needling (DN) has emerged as a popular therapeutic intervention for managing musculoskeletal pain. While major adverse events are generally rare, those that have been reported in vulnerable areas such as the spine and thorax can be serious and warrant further investigation regarding safe techniques in and around these areas. # Purpose The purpose of this study was to reproduce the methods employed by Williams et al. but with an inferior-medial multifidus DN technique to determine if a dry needle can penetrate the ligamentum flavum (LF) and breach the spinal canal at the thoracolumbar junction. # Study Design Descriptive Cadaveric study. # Methods The procedure was performed on a cadaver in the prone position. The needle was advanced under ultrasound guidance to determine if a 0.30 x 40 mm dry needle inserted lateral to the spinous process of T12 and directed inferior-medially could penetrate the LF and enter the spinal canal. # Results A 0.30 x 40 mm dry needle inserted 1.9 cm lateral to the spinous process of T12 was able to traverse the space between the vertebral laminae of T12 and L1, penetrate the LF, and enter the spinal canal with an inferior-medial needle angulation of 33-degrees medial and 18-degrees inferior. # Conclusion The results of this study demonstrate the feasibility of a dry needle entering the spinal canal at the thoracolumbar junction using an inferior-medial technique. These findings support the potential role of ultrasound guidance in the training and clinical practice of DN, especially in regions where safety issues have been documented. # Level of Evidence Level IV.https://doi.org/10.26603/001c.123477 |
| spellingShingle | Christi L. Williams Sue E. Curfman Stacey R. Lindsley Christian R. Falyar Ryan C. McConnell Inferior-Medial Dry Needling at the Thoracolumbar Junction: A Cadaveric Study International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy |
| title | Inferior-Medial Dry Needling at the Thoracolumbar Junction: A Cadaveric Study |
| title_full | Inferior-Medial Dry Needling at the Thoracolumbar Junction: A Cadaveric Study |
| title_fullStr | Inferior-Medial Dry Needling at the Thoracolumbar Junction: A Cadaveric Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Inferior-Medial Dry Needling at the Thoracolumbar Junction: A Cadaveric Study |
| title_short | Inferior-Medial Dry Needling at the Thoracolumbar Junction: A Cadaveric Study |
| title_sort | inferior medial dry needling at the thoracolumbar junction a cadaveric study |
| url | https://doi.org/10.26603/001c.123477 |
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