Falknor's Needling for Verruca

Falknor`s needling procedure is an innovative and highly effective treatment for stubborn Verrucae (warts). It is a form of destructive therapy which is intended to damage the verruca and create a controlled inflammatory response around the area, which stimulates the body's immune system to recognise the virus and destroy it. The treatment has been around for 40 years and was first described in a medical journal in America in 1969 and is used routinely with great success by practitioners internationally.

Needling is different from most other treatment modalities (such as caustics, which can entail a lot of applications to be effective) as it only requires one, very occasionally two, applications making this an ideal treatment for busy people.

24 hours after treatment you can shower as normal without the need to keep bulky dressings dry. In fact, no dressings are required at all after 2 days, so you can continue with daily activities as normal.

How does this method of treatment work? By puncturing the tissue containing the virus multiple times, the virus particle is directly exposed to the adipose tissue beneath allowing the body`s own immune system to recognise and destroy the virus. As this immune response is systemic, treatment of only one Verrucae is required even where there are many lesions as spontaneous remission occurs in all Verrucae at the same time.

The procedure is carried out painlessly under a local anaesthetic and only mild soreness the following day has been reported by a few patients, although the majority felt no discomfort at all following treatment.

Verruca Needling

The local anaesthetic will either be injected at the base of the toe or at the ankle. You will not be able to drive whilst the anaesthetic is in effect! There are two types of Local Anaesthetic available:

1. Those local to the lesion, lasts a few hours, and is suitable for isolated lesions
2. Nerve block at the ankle: this will give full pain relief for at least 8 hours

Needling is not an overnight solution, it can take time to have an effect, from 2-3 months to 1 year. Also, patients must not take any anti-inflammatory (ibuprofen, aspirin, etc) for at least 2 weeks post op, otherwise the inflammation to trigger response won`t occur! If any bruising is felt, patients can take paracetamol.

Post Operative advice following Needling for verruca: 

You may experience a little discomfort (bruising) after the anaesthetic has worn off and might wish to take your preferred painkillers. Please avoid Aspirin based products as they can cause bleeding and do not take an anti-inflammatory (the
aim of treatment is to create an inflammatory response!). Go home and rest with your foot elevated as much as possible for the rest of the day and keep the dressing dry.

24 hours after treatment, you can remove the dressing and shower as normal, lightly washing the area with soap and water. No dressing is generally required after showering, and you can continue with daily activities as normal.

It is important that you keep your follow up appointments at one- and ten-week intervals after the procedure, for wound inspection and to ensure that there are no problems. If in the unlikely event that infection occurs, please contact your podiatrist immediately. The signs of infection are pain with heat and possibly a smelly discharge from the wound.

Every effort will be made to ensure a successful outcome to your treatment. If you have any concerns at all about your treatment, please do not hesitate to contact me

Needling of Verruca’s: Please note that a patient must not be taking anti-inflammatory (ibuprofen, aspirin, etc )for 2 weeks prior to and 2 weeks after the needling procedure, or the inflammation to trigger response won`t occur!

Paracetamol may be taken.

Also, needling is not an overnight cure, it can take a minimum of 2-3 months to 1 year for the needling to have a full effect.