Abstract
Background Percutaneous needle electrolysis (PNE) is a physiotherapy technique which has demonstrated
its effectiveness for the treatment of tendinopathies and muscle pathologies. All
the authors consulted base its therapeutic effect on the capacity to produce an important
inflammatory response during the initial phase of the regenerative process. However,
presently, the histological effects of the technique on tendinopathies are unknown.
The aim of this study was to histologically examine the inflammatory response provoked
by the PNE versus dry needling (DN) in mice with collagenase-induced tendinopathy.
Material and Methods In order to achieve the proposed aim, a murine model was used with a total of 18
C57BL/6J mice. One week prior to the intervention, collagenase-induced tendinopathy
was performed in the common calcaneal tendons of all mice. Once the pathology was
established, they received DN in the left common calcaneus tendon, whereas, on the
right, they received treatment with PNE. Groups of animals were sacrificed at 3, 7
and 14 days to evaluate the histological evolution of injuries. Samples of the common
calcaneal tendon were taken and were later fixed in formalin, processed, and included
in paraffin blocks. Sections of 3 microns thick were performed, which were dyed using
hematoxylin-eosin for conventional histopathological examination.
Results In both groups, tissue damage was observed with collagen fragmentation and the presence
of fibroblasts. Dry needling of the common calcaneal tendon induced the presence of
an acute inflammatory infiltrate (characterized by the presence of polymorphonuclear
neutrophils and macrophages) at the level of the peritenon and adjacent fat tissue
which was detectable after day 3, and notable after days 7 and 14. The application
of PNE induced a similar effect, although on day 14, the inflammatory infiltrate of
PNE was more evident, compared to DN.
Conclusion The proposed in vivo murine model has demonstrated to be useful for the study of
the evolution of the first phases of the regenerative process induced by both techniques.
The histopathological results reveal that PNE generates a pro-inflammatory stimulus
which is superior to DN on day 14.
