EFFICACY OF OZONE NUCLEOLYSIS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF DISCOGENIC PAIN AND IMPROVEMENT OF FUNCTIONAL OUTCOME IN PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM LUMBAR AND LUMBOSACRAL DISC PROLAPSE: A PROSPECTIVE STUDY

Abstract

BACKGROUND- One of the most common symptoms in our day to day life is discogenic low back pain. For treatment of this pain many percutaneous minimally invasive therapeutic modalities have evolved. Intradiscal oxygen-ozone therapy is one of the modalities showing promising results. This study was undertaken to evaluate the therapeutic outcome of intradiscal oxygen-ozone therapy on patients with lumbar and lumbosacral disc prolapse attending PMR OPD RIMS IMPHAL.

 METHODS- 50 patients compyling selection criteria were included in the study with clinicoradiological diagnosis of lumbar or lumbosacral disc prolapse. These patients received oxygen-ozone mixture at a concentration of 30-40 mcg/ml in the disc, neural foramen, facet joint regions and therapeutic outcome was assessed at 4 weeks, 3 months and 6 months post procedure based on VISUAL ANALOGUE SCALE (VAS), OSWESTRY LOW BACK PAIN DISABILITY QUESTIONNAIRE (ODI) and MODIFIED MACNAB METHODE.

RESULTS- Pain intensity was significantly reduced following treatment from baseline mean VAS 8.46₊/₋0.67 to 3.8₊/₋1.29 at one month, at three months 3.1₊/₋0.7 and at 6 months follow up 3.78₊/₋1.13, p < 0.0001. Similarly the ODI and modified MacNab criteria showed a remarkable improvement in the functional status of the patients p<0.05.

CONCLUSION-Oxygen-ozone treatment is highly effective in relieving discogenic pain and improving functional outcome in lumbar or lumbosacral disc related low back pain patients.