Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This retrospective study aimed to evaluate and compare the clinical efficacy of intradiscal ozone therapy (OT) against a combination therapy of ozone and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in patients diagnosed with intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD). METHODS: The study included a cohort of 50 patients, divided equally into two groups of 25, who received either intradiscal OT or ozone + PRP combination therapy between February 2022 and February 2023. The sample comprised 20 females and 30 males, with ages ranging from 19 to 76 years (mean age 48.8). Pain intensity was measured using the visual analog scale (VAS), while disability levels were assessed using the oswestry disability index (ODI) prior to treatment and at 1, 3, and 6 months post-treatment. Additionally, lumbar magnetic resonance imaging was conducted at the 3-month mark post-treatment, with evaluations based on the Pfirrmann disc degeneration classification. RESULTS: Significant improvement in both VAS and ODI scores was observed in both treatment groups (P < 0.001). The ozone + PRP combination therapy group exhibited no statistically significant difference in VAS and ODI scores compared to the ozone-only group (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Intradiscal OT and the ozone + PRP combination therapy represent effective minimally invasive treatment options for patients suffering from IVDD, yielding substantial clinical benefits with minimal side effects. That is why it is suggested as a potential preferred therapeutic approach prior to the consideration of surgical interventions.