Paravertebral intramuscular ozone therapy in lumbar disc hernia: A comprehensive retrospective study

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Yalçın, Ümit

Affiliations: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Medicana International İstanbul Hospital, Beylikdüzü Caddesi 3, Beylikdüzü, İstanbul, Turkey | Tel.: +90 5074372973; E-mail: [email protected]

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Medicana International İstanbul Hospital, Beylikdüzü Caddesi 3, Beylikdüzü, İstanbul, Turkey. Tel.: +90 5074372973; E-mail: [email protected].

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Clinical studies assessing the impacts of ozone on the musculoskeletal framework are slowly expanding. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we analyzed the impact of paravertebral ozone treatment (OT) injection treatment on distress and disability in patients with lumbar disc hernia (LDH). METHODS: The records of 432 patients with L4-5 and L5-S1 LDH were examined retrospectively. 298 patients who met the inclusion criteria and who provided written informed consent were divided into two groups. Each group received 15 sets of physiotherapy at a rate of five sets every week (study group (n= 139), control group (n= 159)). Six OT injections were applied solely to the study group, two days per week. A visual pain score (VAS) was set up for distress and the Oswestry Disability Questionnaire (ODI) for disablement was administered when the groups were called to control before treatment, towards the end of the treatment, and three months after the treatment ended. RESULTS: The groups had significantly reduced (p< 0.05) VAS and ODI scores following and three months after the treatment contrasted with their scores before the treatment. The Physiotherapy + OT group had significantly lower (p< 0.05) VAS and ODI scores than the physiotherapy group following and three months after the treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Paravertebral OT injection is quite a safe and helpful treatment technique in LDH patients. Further studies should be conducted to investigate the long-term outcomes of the paravertebral OT application.

Keywords: Lumbar disc herniation, pain, ozone therapy, physiotherapy

DOI: 10.3233/BMR-200129

Journal: Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, vol. 34, no. 4, pp. 597-604, 2021