Ozone and Ozonated Growth Factors in the Treatment of Disc Herniation and Discartrosis Lumbar Spine

Resumen

The management of the disc herniation and its complications through highly invasive
surgical techniques has drawbacks including the high number of adverse effects.
Discolysis with ozone has shown high therapeutic efficacy and the use of growth factors
derived from platelets is increasingly used in tissue regeneration. The present study aims
to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of ozone on the herniated disc and the healing
and restorative effect of growth factors on the degenerated or damaged herniated disc.
A prospective, single-center, nonrandomized study involving 60 patients in an age range
of 35-82 years diagnosed with severe lumbo-sciatica, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) 7-8,
and degenerative disc syndrome was carried out. The patients were intervened with
discolysis with autologous plasma rich in growth factors derived from platelets and ozone.
The evaluation of the patients was followed by monitoring clinical symptoms, EVA (visual
analogue scale) assessment, and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) methods. The
results showed a 90% complete resolution with EVA at 4 and 6 months of 0-2, and MRI
showed resolution of the hernia and rehydration of damaged discs. The remaining 10%
showed a partial resolution. Five percent of the patients reported adverse reactions (2
patients with mild transient headache and one pneumocephalus patient). These results
demonstrate the efficacy and safety of the procedure in this type of pathology.