US/CT fusion imaging and virtual navigation to guide lumbar intradiscal oxygen-ozone therapy: a pilot study.

Purpose: To test the feasibility of US/CT fusion imaging to guide lumbar intradiscal O₂/O₃ therapy to treat discogenic degenerative low back pain due to lumbar disc herniation (LDH).

Methods: We retrospectively included consecutive patients affected by low back pain and/or sciatica due to LDH resistant to conservative therapies, who underwent to lumbar intradiscal O₂/O₃ injection under CT/US fusion imaging guidance (Fusion Group) and standard CT guidance (Control Group). For each procedure, we collected procedure operative time, room utilization time, number of CT passes, complications, and O₂/O₃ intradiscal diffusion adequacy. Technical success was defined as the ability to complete the procedure as initially planned to reach the disc. Technical efficacy was based on O₂/O₃ intradiscal diffusion adequacy, as demonstrated by the last CT scan.

Results: Six patients (4 males; mean age: 68 ± 15 years) were included in the Fusion group, six (4 males; mean age: 66 ± 12 years) in Control group. No complications were observed in both groups. In Fusion group we found significantly lower room utilization time (30 ± 6 min vs. 46 ± 10 min, p = 0.008), procedure operative time (14 ± 3 min vs. 24 ± 6 min, p = 0.008), and number of CT passes (2 [2,2] vs. 3 [3,3], p = 0.006) than in Control Group, respectively. Technical success and efficacy were 100% in both Groups.

Conclusion: CT/US fusion imaging seems to be a feasible and safe guidance for intradiscal O₂/O₃ injections, allowing decrease of procedure time and number of CT passes.