Fulminating Septicemia Secondary to Oxygen-Ozone Therapy for Lumbar Disc Herniation

Abstract

This case report identifies a rare and fatal complication of oxygen-ozone therapy in the treatment of a herniated lumbar disc. Acute fatal septicemia should be considered among the major complications of the oxygen-ozone therapy in the treatment of a herniated lumbar disc.

A Pyogenic Discitis at C3–C4 With Associated Ventral Epidural Abscess Involving C1–C4 After Intradiscal Oxygen-Ozone Chemonucleolysis

“…Recently, Gazzeri et al report a case of fatal septicemia secondary to Escherichia coli infection after oxygen-ozone therapy for lumbar disc herniation, in which a pyogenic lumbar muscle involvement and septic pulmonary embolism were present. 6 We report the first case of a pyogenic discitis with associated SEA secondary to oxygen-ozone therapy for cervical disc herniation. The pathogenic organism was isolated from the epidural infected tissue and turned out to be S. bovis whose usual port of entry is the colon.…”

“…Despite its efficacy, effectiveness, and safety in great need of further assessment, oxygenozone therapy has been clinically spread in many countries, especially in Europe. [1][2][3][4][5][6] O 3 has a strong oxidizing power with good antiseptic, disinfectant, and antiviral properties. Infection secondary to oxygen-ozone treatment is rare.…”

Treatment of the lumbar disc herniation with intradiscal and intraforaminal injection of oxygen-ozone

“…Gazzeri [22] reported one case of a rare and fatal complication of acute septicemia after oxygen-ozone therapy in the treatment of a herniated lumbar disc and he thought it should be considered among the major complications of the oxygen-ozone therapy in the treatment of a herniated lumbar disc. Wu [23] reported a case of pyogenic discitis at C3-C4 with associated ventral epidural abscess involving C1-C4 after intradiscal oxygen-ozone chemonucleolysis.…”

Pitfalls of Intralesional Ozone Injection in Diabetic Foot Ulcers: A Case Study

“…These complications include vitreoretinal hemorrhages, 5 ventral and dorsal root injury, 6 vertebrobasillar stroke, 7 pyogenic discitis and ventral epidural abscess, 8 and fulminant septicemia and death. 9 One of the major concerns regarding intralesional ozone injections is that it may drive the superficial infection, as in our case, into the deeper tissue. Additionally, skin irritation has been reported following topical ozone application and respiratory irritation due to the spreading of the ozone from the generator.…”