Effectiveness of fire needle combining with moist healing dressing to promote the growth of granulation tissue in chronic wounds: A case report.

This is a single case report, so it cannot show that the treatment works or how it compares with other wound-care methods. Several wound-care steps were given together, so the effect of fire needle alone cannot be separated. The patient was transferred to the cardiovascular department before long-term follow-up, so long-term effect is unknown. The wound bed depth was unclear because slough covered it. Needle depth was uncertain. The procedure requires surgical debridement skill and fire acupuncture expertise. The authors say a standardized manual, guideline or evaluation tools for fire needle therapy in chronic wounds should be developed.

The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The research was funded by grants from The First Affiliated Hospital Project of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine.

Do not read the granulation tissue growth as proof that fire needle works. This was a single patient, and assessment, cleaning, disinfection, debridement, fire needle, moist silver dressing and wrap were given together, so no single component can be separated.