Safety of Acupuncture Using Semi-Permanent Needles in a Pediatric Cancer Unit: A Retrospective Study.

Researchers in Spain studied whether a special type of acupuncture needle is safe for children and young adults receiving cancer treatment. Semi-permanent needles are small needles that can stay in place for several days, unlike regular acupuncture needles that are removed right after treatment. This study looked at 196 young cancer patients who received acupuncture treatments at a pediatric cancer center in Barcelona over two years. Many of these patients had weakened immune systems or low blood platelet counts due to their cancer treatments, which can increase risks of infection or bleeding. The study tracked 1,107 acupuncture sessions using nearly 10,000 semi-permanent needles and over 5,000 regular acupuncture needles. The researchers carefully monitored patients for three days after each treatment to check for any problems. They found the treatment was remarkably safe—there were no infections, no cases of sepsis (blood infection), and no skin irritation. Only one minor issue occurred: a small bruise on one patient's ear that went away on its own without needing treatment. This patient had very low platelet counts at the time. These findings are important because they show that acupuncture with semi-permanent needles can be safely used even in vulnerable pediatric cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. This may help expand treatment options for managing symptoms like pain and nausea in children with cancer. If you're considering acupuncture for a child with cancer, work with a licensed acupuncturist experienced in pediatric oncology within an integrative cancer care team.

This retrospective study evaluated the safety of semi-permanent needles (alone or combined with filiform needles) in 196 pediatric oncology patients at Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona. Data from September 2019 to September 2021 encompassed 1,107 acupuncture sessions using 9,360 semi-permanent and 5,125 filiform needles. Patient demographics: 59.2% male, median age 11.82 years (range 0.2-34.0), median 4 treatments per patient (range 1-44). Notably, 33.4% of sessions occurred during neutropenia and 27.6% during thrombocytopenia. Primary outcomes assessed infection and bleeding risks across varying degrees of myelosuppression. Results demonstrated excellent safety: zero cases of sepsis, local infection, or skin irritation within 72 hours post-needle removal. One self-limited adverse event occurred—a superficial ear hematoma in a grade 4 thrombocytopenic patient that resolved spontaneously. Clinical takeaway: Semi-permanent needle acupuncture demonstrates a favorable safety profile in pediatric oncology, supporting its integration into supportive care protocols even during chemotherapy-induced cytopenias.