ABSTRACT
Objective To compare the clinical effectiveness of ozone (O_3) nucleus pulposus ablation only with that of 03 nucleus pulposus ablation combined with intervertebral facet joint injection of compound Betamethasome in treating lumbar disk herniation accompanied with intervertebral facet arthritis. Methods Eighty patients with lumbar disk herniation and intervertebral facet arthritis were equally and randomly divided into two groups. Under CT guidance, O_3 nucleus pulposus ablation was performed in patients of group A(n = 40), while O_3 nucleus pulposus ablation combined with intervertebral facet joint injection of compound Betamethasome (0.5 ～ 1 ml) was carried out in patients of group B (n = 40). Using double blind method the therapeutic effectiveness was evaluated before and 1 week, 3, 6-months after the procedure by an Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire. Results One week after the procedure the effective rate of group A and group B was 65% and 82.5% respectively. Three and six months after the treatment, the effective rate was 75% and 70% respectively for group A, while it was 90% and 92.5% respectively for group B. The difference between two groups was significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion lntradiscal injection of O_3 combined with intervertebral facet joint injection of compound Betamethasome is an effective and safe treatment for lumbar disk herniation accompanied with intervertebral facet arthritis. It is worth popularizing this technique in clinical practice.