Percutaneous Computed Tomography-Guided Oxygen-Ozone (O2O3) Injection Therapy in Patients with Lower Back Pain: An Interventional Two-Year Follow-Up Study of 321 Patients

Kristina Davidovic, Sebastian Cotofana, Stephan Heisinger, Slavica Savic, Michael Alfertshofer, Tatjana Antonic, Sanja Jovanovic, Marko Ercegovac, Mario Muto, Danilo Jeremic, Aleksandar Janicijevic, Lukas Rasulic, Vesna Janosevic, Lidija Saric, Deborah Chua, Dragan Masulovic, Ruzica Maksimovic

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Abstract

Objectives: 

To assess the effect of oxygen-ozone therapy guided by percutaneous Computed Tomography (CT) compared to corticosteroids in individuals experiencing lower back pain (LBP) not attributed to underlying bone-related issues. 

Methods: 

A total of 321 patients (192 males and 129 females, mean age: 51.5 ± 15.1 years) with LBP were assigned to three treatment groups: group A) oxygen-ozone only, group B) corticosteroids only, group C) oxygen-ozone and corticosteroids. Treatment was administered via CT-guided injections to the intervertebral disc (i.e., intradiscal location). Clinical improvement of pain and functionality was assessed via self-reported pain scales and magnetic resonance (MR) and CT imaging. 

Results: 

At all follow-up times, the mean score of the numeric rating scale and the total global pain scale (GPS) of study groups receiving oxygen-ozone (groups A and C) were statistically significantly lower than the study group receiving corticosteroids only (group B), with p < 0.001. There was a statistically significant difference between groups A and C at 30 days for the numeric rating scale. 

Conclusions: 

The percutaneous application of oxygen-ozone in patients with LBP due to degeneration of the lumbosacral spine showed long-lasting significant pain reduction of up to two years post-treatment when compared to corticosteroids alone. Combination therapy of oxygen-ozone and corticosteroids can be useful as corticosteroids showed statistically significant improvement in LBP earlier than the oxygen-ozone-only treatment.

Original languageEnglish
Article number3370
Number of pages15
JournalDiagnostics
Volume13
Issue number21
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2 Nov 2023

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