[Ozone therapy in the treatment of herniated disc and other painful conditions of the lumbar]
Paz-Valinas L
Record ID 32006001421
Spanish
Authors' objectives:
The aim of this review is to assess the efficacy/effectiveness and safety of ozone therapy in herniated disc and other painful disorders affecting the lumbar region.
Authors' results and conclusions:
In most of the studies located, the methodology evinced little rigor, revealing a low level of scientific evidence. The results yielded by these types of studies, despite being optimal in a considerably high percentage of cases -to the point of registering a success rate in excess of 80% in some instances- displayed a number of biases. Consequently, the validity of such results lacks a solid base. The methodologically better-quality studies retrieved included a randomized controlled clinical trial, a systematic review, and clinical practice guidelines, but these also displayed various biases.
Authors' recommendations:
Application of ozone therapy is as effective as administration of steroids. Hence, a long-term trial should be conducted to assess, not only the effectiveness of, but also the complications deriving from both treatments. In addition, further studies are called for to perform an economic analysis aimed at evaluating the technique's cost-effectiveness/usefulness versus that of conventional therapies.
Based on the methodologic quality and level of scientific evidence of existing studies, it can be said that there is a lack of sufficiently solid arguments to recommend implementation of the ozone therapy technique in the treatment of herniated disc and other painful disorders of the lumbar region. It is therefore felt that, at the present time, sufficient scientific evidence does not exist to allow for generalized use of this technique to be recommended. Were it to be introduced into the health-care system, however, this should be done within an experimental framework, subject to prior establishment of strict selection criteria for health centers and patients alike, and with standardization of the technique that provides for strict follow-up, data-collection and -recording, and outcome assessment.
Authors' methods:
Review
Details
Project Status:
Completed
Year Published:
2006
English language abstract:
An English language summary is available
Publication Type:
Not Assigned
Country:
Spain
MeSH Terms
- Injections, Spinal
- Low Back Pain
- Ozone
Contact
Organisation Name:
Scientific Advice Unit, avalia-t; The Galician Health Knowledge Agency (ACIS)
Contact Address:
Conselleria de Sanidade, Xunta de Galicia, San Lazaro s/n 15781 Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Tel: 34 981 541831; Fax: 34 981 542854;
Contact Name:
avalia-t@sergas.es
Contact Email:
avalia-t@sergas.es
Copyright:
Galician Agency for Health Technology Assessment (AVALIA-T)
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.