Ozone Therapy for Lumbar Disc Herniation
Summary
Ozone therapy has emerged as a minimally invasive intervention for lumbar disc herniation, targeting both biochemical and mechanical contributors to nerve root compression. Administered as an oxygen-ozone (O2-O3) mixture directly into the intervertebral disc or surrounding paraspinal tissues, it exerts an oxidative effect on proteoglycan matrix and triggers local anti-inflammatory cascades. The resulting reduction in disc volume and modulation of cytokine activity alleviate nerve irritation, leading to sustained pain relief and functional improvement. Advantages include avoidance of general anaesthesia, reduced hospital stay and cost-effectiveness compared with conventional surgery. Patient selection typically involves those with contained herniations unresponsive to conservative measures, while imaging guidance such as computed tomography or fluoroscopy ensures precision and safety. Emerging refinements focus on optimising ozone concentration, combination with corticosteroids and integration with rehabilitation protocols to enhance long-term outcomes.
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Ozone Therapy for Lumbar Disc Herniation publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in ozone therapy for lumbar disc herniation across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Ozone nucleolysis: The biochemical breakdown of herniated disc material by direct application of an oxygen-ozone mixture.
Intradiscal injection: Delivery of therapeutic agents directly into the nucleus pulposus of an intervertebral disc under imaging guidance.
Radiculopathy: Pain, numbness or weakness radiating along a spinal nerve root distribution due to nerve compression.
Visual Analogue Scale (VAS): A patient-reported measure of pain intensity typically ranging from ‘no pain’ to ‘worst imaginable pain’.
Oswestry Disability Index (ODI): A standardized questionnaire assessing the degree of disability and functional impairment in lower back conditions.
References
- 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. Diagnostics (2023).
- Percutaneous ozone nucleolysis for lumbar disc herniation. Neuroradiology (2018).
- Ozone therapy versus surgery for lumbar disc herniation: A randomized double-blind controlled trial. Complementary Therapies in Medicine (2021).
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