Oxygen–Ozone Therapy in Cervicobrachial Pain: A Real-Life Experience

Abstract

This prospective, open-label clinical study was carried out to evaluate both the efficacy and safety of intramuscular paravertebral injections of an oxygen–ozone (O2–O3) mixture in patients with cervicobrachial pain. We enrolled 540 subjects affected by cervicobrachial pain referred to the Ozone Therapy Ambulatory at the Mater Domini Hospital of Catanzaro (Italy) and to the Center of Pain in Taurianova (Reggio Calabria, Italy). All the subjects (n = 540) completed the treatment and the follow-up visits. The subjects received a mean of 11 cervical intramuscular treatments with an O2–O3 mixture (5 mL) with an O3 concentration of 10 μg/mL bis a week. The improvement of pain was measured by a change in the mean of the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score from baseline to the end of treatment and during follow-ups. Patient satisfaction was assessed at the end of treatment using the SF-36 Questionnaire. The development of adverse drug reactions was recorded. The mean (±standard deviation) VAS pain score at baseline, at the end of treatment, and during follow-ups showed a significant reduction in pain over time (p p 2–O3 mixture is an effective and safe treatment option for patients with cervicobrachial pain.

Keywords

• oxygen–ozone (O₂–O₃) therapy
• intramuscular
• cervicobrachial pain
• efficacy
• safety