TRIGGER POINT DRY NEEDLING FOR PAIN, FUNCTION, AND MOUTH OPENING IN ORAL SUBMUCOUS FIBROSIS: A PILOT FEASIBILITY STUDY

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a chronic, progressive oral potentially malignant disorder characterized by inflammation and fibrosis of the oral mucosa, causing trismus, pain, and functional limitation. Conventional treatments offer variable relief, prompting interest in minimally invasive adjuncts. Trigger point dry needling (TrP-DN) uses filiform needles to target myofascial trigger points, reducing pain, normalizing muscle tone, and improving function. Purpose is to evaluate feasibility, safety, and preliminary effects of TrP-DN on pain intensity, maximal mouth opening, and jaw functional limitation in Stage I or II OSF patients.

口腔黏膜下纤维化（Oral submucous fibrosis, OSF）是一种慢性进展性口腔潜在恶性疾患，以口腔黏膜炎症及纤维化为主要特征，可引发牙关紧闭、疼痛与功能受限。当前常规治疗的疗效参差不齐，促使学界对微创辅助疗法产生研究兴趣。触发点干针疗法（Trigger point dry needling, TrP-DN）通过毫针靶向刺激肌筋膜触发点，能够缓解疼痛、调节肌张力并改善机体功能。本研究旨在评估触发点干针疗法应用于Ⅰ期或Ⅱ期OSF患者时，在疼痛强度、最大张口度及下颌功能受限方面的可行性、安全性与初步疗效。