Clinical behavior of children with infantile cerebral palsy after ozone therapy.

Abstract

Objective. The aim of this study was to determine the usefulness of ozone therapy in the treatment of Infantile Cerebral Palsy (ICP). Patients and methods. A non-controlled clinical assay was made in the Ozone Research Center (CIO), Havana, Cuba from January 2013 to January 2014. The sample was constituted by patients remitted to pediatrics consultation of CIO, to whom inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied. The study group involved 45 patients, from 1 month of birth to 8 years, with cerebral palsy of hypoxic-ischemic cause. The evaluation criteria were: evolution of the motor disorder according to the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) scale, modification of muscle tone (Ashworth modified scale) and response to treatment (O’Brien modified scale). The way of administration was rectal insufflation; concentrations between 15, 20, 25 and 30 mg/L were used, volumes varied according to age, making calculation of the dose of ozone according to kilograms of weight. Cycles of 20 sessions, every 3 months were indicated, until completing 4 in 16 months. Patients were clinically evaluated, according to the scales used, before and after each cycle. Results and Discussion. The best answer to treatment was obtained in the group aged ? 4 years. The variables analyzed showed a significant improvement when the ozone treatment concluded. With respect to the evolution of the motor disorder, in 65 % of cases it improved. In the group of children below 4 years, the response was better in relation to the muscle tone. Response to treatment, according to the relatives’ criteria, was of 70 % of the children with marked improvement in the tone and muscle function. Conclusions. The greatest percentage of patients improved in the evolution of the motor disorder; when the Manual Ability Classification System (MACS) scale was applied, more than half the patients showed an improvement. A high percentage of children get a satisfactory result regarding muscle tone and motor function. No side effects were present in any of the cases during the study.