Clinical applications of ozone: a review of 94 cases from Iraq

Abstract

Objectives Ozone (O3) has been used for medical purposes more than a century ago. Although, its precise mechanism of action is still
unclear, many disease conditions are currently treated by ozone. In Iraq, the use of medical ozone is recent. Herein, we present our first
experience.
Methods This is a retrospective study of 94 patients (67 females and 27 males) with different painful disorders treated by ozone in a private
clinic in Kirkuk, Iraq over 1 year period (July 1, 2016–June 30, 2017). Longevity resources EXT50 Ozone Generator with oxygen tank and
CGA870 Oxygen Regulator were used. Ozone was prepared as, O2–O3, ozonized olive oil (OOO) or ozonized platelet rich plasma (OPRP) and
given via subcutaneous (S), intra-muscular (IM) or intra-articular (IA) injections. A sample of patient’s own blood was used to prepare PRP
by a process of two repeated centrifugation and then activated by passing ozone in a concentration of 68.7 gammas. A questionnaire was
used to grade the patients’ responses as excellent, good, fair and poor. Z-test was used for statistical analysis.
Results The mean age was 53 ± 15 years. The two major treated groups were osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee (n = 40) and lower back pain
(LBP) (n = 22). Overall, ozone yielded excellent to good results in 68 patients (72.3%) and a poor outcome in 9 (9.5%) patients.
Conclusion Ozone therapy is an inexpensive therapy, which seems to be safe and effective in palliating pain of OA and intervertebral disc
herniation as well as other pain disorders.