[Low-temperature plasma radiofrequency ablation of dorsal rami of spinal nerves combined with ozone injection for the treatment of lumbar facet joint disorder].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the clinical efficacy of low-temperature plasma radiofrequency ablation of the medial branch of the spinal dorsal ramus combined with ozone injection for the treatment of lumbar facet joint disorders.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was conducted on 90 patients diagnosed with lumbar facet joint disorders between January 2024 and December 2024. Patients were divided into three groups based on the treatment received. The radiofrequency group comprised 30 cases underwent coblation radiofrequency ablation alone including 12 males and 18 females, with an age of (59.37±3.85) years and a disease duration of (14.37±1.25) months. The ozone group comprosed 30 cases received ozone injection alone including 11 males and 19 females, with an age of (59.89±3.96) years and a disease duration of (14.44±1.36) months. The combination group consisted of 30 cases received coblation radiofrequency ablation combined with ozone injection including 15 males and 15 females, with an age of (59.12±2.15) years and a disease duration of (14.23±3.25) months. Outcome measures included the numerical rating scale (NRS) for pain at preoperative and postoperative time points and the modified MacNab criteria at 12 months postoperatively.

RESULTS

All patients were successfully followed up for 12 months. The NRS scores in all three groups decreased significantly compared to preoperative levels (P<0.05). Notably, the combination group exhibited significantly lower NRS scores at 1 day, 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months postoperatively compared to the radiofrequency and ozone groups(P<0.05). At the 12-month follow-up, the excellent/good rate in the combination group was 86.67% (26/30), which was significantly higher than that in the radiofrequency group(70.0%, 21/30) and the ozone group(60.0%, 18/30) (χ2=5.277, P<0.05). No complications such as hematoma, nerve injury, or infection occurred in any of the groups during the follow-up period.

CONCLUSION

For lumbar facet joint disorders, coblation radiofrequency ablation combined with ozone injection demonstrates superior efficacy to monotherapy, providing more effective pain relief, higher excellent/good rates, and excellent safety.