Treatment of large lumbar disc herniation with percutaneous ozone injection via the posterior-lateral route and inner margin of the facet joint

AIM: To evaluate the effects of percutaneous ozone injection via the posterior-lateral route and inner margin of the facet joint in the treatment of large lumbar disc herniation. METHODS: Fifty-eight patients with large lumbar disc herniation were treated with percutaneous injection of ozone via the posterior-lateral route and inner margin of the facet joint under digital subtraction angiography. Second injections were performed 5 d after the initial injection. All patients were followed up for 6-18 mo. A modified Macnab method was used for assessing clinical outcomes after oxygen-ozone therapy. RESULTS: Successful puncture was obtained in all patients. The overall efficacy was 91.4%; the outcome was the excellent in 37 cases (63.8%), good in 16 cases (27.6%) and fair/poor in 5 cases (8.6%) according to the Macnab criteria. No severe complications were found throughout this study. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous intradiscal ozone injection via the posterior-lateral route and inner margin of the facet joint is effective and safe for treatment of large lumbar disc herniation. (c) 2010 Baishideng. All rights reserved.