Needling Therapy for Burn Injury and Related Complications: A Scoping Review of Experimental and Clinical Studies

Needling therapy may be a novel alternative therapeutic intervention for burn injuries and related complications. This scoping review aimed to comprehensively evaluate the evidence status of needling therapy for burns and their complications. Studies on needling therapy for burns and related complications were retrieved from inception to 1st June 2024. Nine databases (MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL, CNKI, CiNii, RISS, KISS, DBpia and OASIS) were searched without any language or study-type restrictions. The study design, details of the needling therapy, and results of needling for burn injuries (or related complications) were evaluated. Of the 1475 articles screened, 46 studies (comprising 16 experimental studies, 12 case studies, four observational studies, 13 randomised controlled trials, and one systematic review) were included in the final analysis. Most studies (71.7%) investigated the acute-phase burn wound healing process, while the remaining studies (28.3%) focused on the modulation of burn-related complications. Experimental studies demonstrated that needling therapy activates phases of the wound healing process including the inflammation, proliferation, and remodelling phases and modulates the cholinergic anti-inflammatory response in burn-related acute symptoms. Clinical studies exhibited a significant heterogeneity regarding treatment period, patient population, and needling type across different study designs. Experimental studies have primarily focused on the wound healing process itself, whereas clinical studies have investigated short-term outcomes related to burn complications, with great heterogeneity observed in the methods of needling employed. Further studies are required to strengthen research gaps between experimental and clinical research, with proper treatment and evaluation periods to demonstrate the effectiveness of needling therapy for burns and associated complications. Trial Registration: INPLASY202450102.