subject: Ozone Discectomy - A Non-surgical Method to Cure Slip Disc [print this page] Ozone Discectomy - A Non-surgical Method to Cure Slip Disc
zone is composed of 3 atoms of oxygen and is represented chemically as O3; The action happens when the active oxygen atom is liberated from breaking down of ozone molecule into an atom of oxygen and O2. When the ozone is injected into the slip disc region, the active oxygen atom or the free radicle attaches itself with the proteo-glycan that forms a jelly-like material or nuceus pulposus. Its then furthur broken down till they are no longer capable of holding water, which is the main reason for the pain. Due to this the disc shrinks and gets mummified. Thus, the intradiscal pressure and intradiscal volume is reduced. Thus there is decompression of nerve root. Since this method is almost equivalent to a surgical discectomy, therefore, the procedure is known as ozone discectomy.
Ozone is a powerful oxidant, so soon as the ozone is injected, anti-inflammatory action takes place which leads to the production of chemical substances; it immediately dissolves into the extra cellular fluid and it reacts with a the molecules of antioxidants, proteins, carbohydrates, and polyunsaturated fatty acids. All these factors lead to decompression of nerve roots, reduction in inflammation of the nerve roots and increased blood supply in the system.
Ozone Discectomy is not usually done under local anaesthesia but a light general anaesthesia may be administered in patients who are apprehensive. A very fine needle is introduced into the painful disc under a fluoroscopic guidance. By injecting some small amount of radio-opaque dye the position of needle tip is determined. Ozone molecules are not stable. A single molecule of ozone has a lifetime of about 20 minutes before it disintegrates into O2 and a single atom of oxygen. So, within 20 minutes only half of the original ozone becomes oxygen. An increase in the temperature decreases its lifetime further.It is for this nature of ozone, that it is always freshly prepared on site (from an ozone generator) for immediate administration into the patient. The entire procedure is performed in 15 to 30 minutes depending on the experience of the practitioner.
But this procedure should not be undergone when the patient is bleeding profusely from any part of the body, during pregnancy, during active hyperthyroidism, loss of control of urination and defecation, during G6PD deficiency and progressive sensory & motor loss (paralysis).
Ozone Discectomy, when performed by an experienced physician, can ensure a natural cure and it can provide result just like a medical surgery.
Ozone Discectomy has a success rate of 80 to 90 percent without any side effects. Whereas, surgical discectomy has the same success rate but it has got much higher side effects Apart from this there are other advantages of Ozone Discectomy - it is usually a day care procedure, anaesthesia is generally not required, less hospital stay, no post-operative discomfort, very few side effects and its very cost effective compared to a surgical discectomy. All these factors have led to making this procedure to be very popular among both the patients and the doctors.
