Oxygen-ozone chemonucleolysis for herniated disc with sciatica. A comparison of treatments in patients with subacute and chronic symptoms.

This study compares the results obtained after O2-O3 chemonucleolysis in patients treated early and patients with long-standing symptoms. Because very few patients are referred in the acute stage, we considered patients treated early all those with symptoms of less than six months duration. Patients were divided into two groups: Group A: 37 patients with symptoms lasting less than six months; Group B: 52 patients with long-standing symptoms lasting from more than six months up to 20 years. Intradiscal and periganglionic injection was administered by extraspinal lateral approach using a 22 G × 17.78 cm spinal needle. Results were assessed by a modified version of the Oswestry questionnaire to make the evaluation as objective as possible. The questionnaire was administered to patients before chemonucleolysis and one, six and 18th months after treatment.