Management and Outcome of Ozone Therapy in the Lumbar Spine Disc Disease with and without Use of Corticosteroids

Objectives:  To determine the Consequences and out-turn of ozone with and without the use of peri-ganglionic infiltration of corticosteroids in lumbar spinal generative disc disease. Material and Methods:  Comparative study was conducted in the Neurosurgery Department Pakistan Institute Of Medical Sciences Islamabad from December 2014 to November 2020. We included 338 patients with herniated lumbar disc with backache and radiculopathy. Randomly categorized in groups A and B. Group A was given 4 to 6 ml of intradiscal ozone along with 40 to 80 mg of peri-ganglionic methylprednisolone while group B only received 4 – 6 ml of intra-discal ozone. The visual analog scale was used to assess the degree of pain and modified Macnab criteria were used to assess the post-procedural outcome, periodic follow was carried out up to 6 months after the procedure. Results:  169 patients were enrolled in group A with 70 females and 90 males. Group B had a total of 169 patents with 89 females and 80 males. In group A, a single procedure was required in 89 patients, twice in 27, and thrice in 10 patients to completely obliterate pain. While in group B, 71 patients had the single procedure, twice in 92 and thrice in patients. Data were compared by the Chi-square test, which was further confirmed by a significant P-value of 0.061. Conclusion:  The combination of percutaneous ozone chemodiscolysis along with the preganglionic injection of steroids as compared to single ozone therapy is the most effective, rapid, and long-lasting method of relieving backache and radiculopathy associated with lumbar disc herniation.