Ozone therapy for the management of lumbar disc pathologies
Lopez A, Pichon Riviere A, Augustovski F, Garcia Marti S
Record ID 32005001238
Spanish
Authors' objectives:
The purpose of this report is to assess the efficacy of ozone therapy for the management of disc pathologies.
Authors' results and conclusions:
Fifteen studies relevant to the preparation of this report were obtained. Only one randomized controlled study comparing ozone therapy with other treatment (corticosteroids) was found. This study showed no differences between both groups in the main analysis. Only one subgroup analysis of those patients presenting disc pathologies showed a modest clinical difference in the group of O2-O3, with an additional reduction of pain at 6 months(17.5%). The case series report a rate of success between 68 and 90% measured at different terms. Few adverse effects are reported. Among them homolateral sensitivity loss in the lower limb for hours, dizziness, paleness, minute-lasting tachycardia and severe nucal and cervical pain. A case report of vertebrobasilar stroke was detected as well as a case of sight loss due to pre-macular retina hemorrhages after administering ozone therapy on lumbar spine.
Authors' recommendations:
Ozone therapy is a new technology on which not enough literature has been published. The data come mostly from observational studies of poor-level evidence whose main limitation is lack of comparison against control groups treated using conventional strategies (analgesics and physical therapy). This limitation is particularly significant in pathologies such as low back pain which presents a high rate of spontaneous resolution. It is difficult to draw conclusions about the efficacy of the procedures and their middle to long term safety. The coverage policy found consider that this technique is investigational, with no evidence of proven efficacy.
Authors' methods:
Overview
Details
Project Status:
Completed
URL for project:
http://www.iecs.org.ar/
Year Published:
2005
English language abstract:
An English language summary is available
Publication Type:
Not Assigned
Country:
Argentina
MeSH Terms
- Lumbar Vertebrae
- Low Back Pain
- Ozone
Contact
Organisation Name:
Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy
Contact Address:
Dr. Emilio Ravignani 2024, Buenos Aires - Argentina, C1414 CABA
Contact Name:
info@iecs.org.ar
Contact Email:
info@iecs.org.ar
Copyright:
Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy (IECS)
This is a bibliographic record of a published health technology assessment from a member of INAHTA or other HTA producer. No evaluation of the quality of this assessment has been made for the HTA database.