The Effects of Prolotherapy With Hypertonic Dextrose Versus Prolozone (Intraarticular Ozone) in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis.

BACKGROUND: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a common disabling disease. Limited studies have demonstrated that prolotherapy with dextrose or with prolozone can be helpful in the treatment of patients with KOA. OBJECTIVES: In the current study, we compared the results between these two treatment methods. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In the current randomized clinical trial, 80 patients with mild to moderate KOA were randomly assigned equally into two groups (ozone group and dextrose group). In each group, injections were repeated three times with 10-day intervals. Before the treatment and 3 months after the injections, the pain intensity was measured by using a visual analogue scale and the Western Ontario and McMaster university arthritis index scores. Finally, the results were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: In the two groups, the pain intensity and WOMAC scores significantly decreased and increased, respectively (P < 0.001). However, there was no significant difference between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Prolotherapy with dextrose and with prolozone result in the same pain relief or functional improvement in patients with mild to moderate KOA.

Injection of intradiscal o2-o3 to reduce pain and disability of patients with low back pain due to prolapsed lumbar disk.

BACKGROUND: Disk herniation (DH) is one of the most common disk lesions, inducing low back pain (LBP). Various therapeutic options have been proposed for treatment of disk herniation (DH). Intradiscal injection of ozone has been suggested for treatment of DH. OBJECTIVES: To determine the effect of intradiscal ozone injection on pain score and disability in patients with LBP from disk prolapsed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with LBP diagnosed with DH were enrolled in this clinical trial study. After prep and drape the area and under the fluoroscopy guide (c-arm), intradiscal injection of ozone/oxygen mixture (4 mL, 40 µg/mL) was performed. Pain score and functional ability of the patients according to Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were measured prior to the injection (baseline) and then at 2 and 4 weeks and then at 3 and 6 months after the injection. RESULTS: Thirty patients (17 females, 13 males) with the mean age of 58.6 y (range, 42-73 y) enrolled in the study. The mean ± standard deviation (SD) of pain score before intervention was 8.1 ± 0.8. After two weeks, it was reduced to 3.2 ± 0.6 (P < 0.001) and finally dropped to 2.0 ± 0.6 sixth months after intervention (P = 0.0001). Functional status of ODI was 28.5 ± 2.1 before intervention and showed significant reduction after two weeks (with the mean of 12.3), and it was almost sustained till sixth months after intervention, with the mean of 11.4 (P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Altogether, ozone had significant positive effects on patients with disk herniation unresponsive to other conservative and minimally invasive treatments.