Intradiscal Ozone Application in Lumbar Hernia
It is the use of ozone in medicine by injecting 3-molecule active oxygen (O3) into the tissue. Not extruded (exploded, torn); It is used as an alternative to surgery in lumbar hernia cases with severe leg pain in the form of radiculopathy. The structure of the discs is 70% water and has a high proteoglycan content. The main water holding bonds here are carboxyl and sulfate ions. The most important effect of ozone; it directly affects these carboxyl and sulfate groups, reducing their water holding ability, thus causing volumetric shrinkage of the hernia and eliminating nerve compression. The application is in operating room conditions, with radiological control (scopi) under local anesthesia; With the help of a thin needle, the disc (hernia) is entered and ozone is sent through that needle (ozonediscolysis-ozonediscectomy). The procedure takes between 10-30 minutes and has no significant side effects. There is a 90-95% success rate in correctly selected cases.