American Journal of Neuroradiology 24:996-1000, May 2003
© 2003 American Society of Neuroradiology
SPINE
Minimally Invasive Oxygen-Ozone Therapy for Lumbar Disk Herniation
a Department of Neuroradiology, Ospedale Bellaria, Bologna, Italy
b Ospedale Policlinico, Bari, Italy
Address reprint requests to Marco Leonardi, MD, Servizio di Neuroradiologia, Ospedale Bellaria, Via Altura 3, 40139 Bologna, Italy
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Oxygen-ozone therapy is a minimally invasive treatment for lumbar disk herniation that exploits the biochemical properties of a gas mixture of oxygen and ozone. We assessed the therapeutic outcome of oxygen-ozone therapy and compared the outcome of administering medical ozone alone with the outcome of medical ozone followed by injection of a corticosteroid and an anesthetic at the same session.
METHODS: Six hundred patients were treated with a single session of oxygen-ozone therapy. All presented with clinical signs of lumbar disk nerve root compression, with CT and/or MR evidence of contained disk herniation. Three hundred patients (group A) received an intradiscal (4 mL) and periganglionic (8 mL) injection of an oxygen-ozone mixture at an ozone concentration of 27 µg/mL. The other 300 patients (group B) received, in addition, a periganglionic injection of corticosteroid and anesthetic. Therapeutic outcome was assessed 6 months after treatment by using a modified MacNab method. Results were evaluated by two observers blinded to patient distribution within the two groups.
RESULTS: A satisfactory therapeutic outcome was obtained in both groups. In group A, treatment was a success (excellent or good outcome) in 70.3% and deemed a failure (poor outcome or recourse to surgery) in the remaining 29.7%. In group B, treatment was a success in 78.3% and deemed a failure in the remaining 21.7%. The difference in outcome between the two groups was statistically significant (P < .05).
CONCLUSION: Combined intradiscal and periganglionic injection of medical ozone and periganglionic injection of steroids has a cumulative effect that enhances the overall outcome of treatment for pain caused by disk herniation. Oxygen-ozone therapy is a useful treatment for lumbar disk herniation that has failed to respond to conservative management.
This article has been cited by other articles:
 |
|
 |
|
  J.L. Tian, J.S. Zhang, Y.Y. Xiao, J.T. Liu, B. Yang, J.K. Li, and M. Yu Changes of CSF and Spinal Pathomorphology after High-Concentration Ozone Injection into the Subarachnoid Space: An Experimental Study in Pigs AJNR Am. J. Neuroradiol., June 1, 2007; 28(6): 1051 - 1054. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. Gallucci, N. Limbucci, L. Zugaro, A. Barile, E. Stavroulis, A. Ricci, R. Galzio, and C. Masciocchi Sciatica: Treatment with Intradiscal and Intraforaminal Injections of Steroid and Oxygen-Ozone versus Steroid Only Radiology, March 1, 2007; 242(3): 907 - 913. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. M. Rhee, M. Schaufele, and W. A. Abdu Radiculopathy and the Herniated Lumbar Disc. Controversies Regarding Pathophysiology and Management J. Bone Joint Surg. Am., September 1, 2006; 88(9): 2070 - 2080. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J Teh and S Ostlere Percutaneous spinal procedures Imaging, December 1, 2005; 17(3): 258 - 267. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
B. A. Johnson Therapeutic Periradicular Injections: It's a Gas! AJNR Am. J. Neuroradiol., May 1, 2005; 26(5): 988 - 989. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Bonetti, A. Fontana, B. Cotticelli, G. D. Volta, M. Guindani, and M. Leonardi Intraforaminal O2-O3 versus Periradicular Steroidal Infiltrations in Lower Back Pain: Randomized Controlled Study AJNR Am. J. Neuroradiol., May 1, 2005; 26(5): 996 - 1000. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|