Intra Articular Ozone Reduces Serum Uric Acid and Improves Pain, Function and Quality of Life in Knee Osteoarthritis Patients: A Before-and-After Study

Abstract

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate if ozone is capable of improving pain, function and quality of life, and to decrease serum uric acid in human knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients. Methods: Overall, 42 patients, 31 females (73.81%) and 11 males (26.19%) were enrolled in a prospective quasi experimental before-and-after study. Mean age of the sample was 66.9 ± 8.83 years. Treatment consisted of four sessions (one per week) of an intra articular infiltration of a medical mixture of oxygen-ozone (95% to 5%), 20 mL volume at a 20 µ/mL concentration, on the most symptomatic painful knee. Before and after the intervention, the researchers measured outcomes including serum uric acid and pain, function, and quality of life by the visual analogue scale (VAS) and by Western Ontario and Mac Master index for OA (WOMAC). The OA patients were graded by Kellgren-Lawrence radiological scale as 2° to 4° grades. Results: Serum uric acid decreased from 5.19 ± 1.22 mg/dL to 5.03 ± 1.22 (P = 0.0439). The WOMAC pain subscale score decreased from 14.26 ± 2.61 to 5.95 ± 2.97 points (P = 0.0001), WOMAC stiffness subscale diminished from 2.72 ± 1.63 to 1.04 ± 1.04 points (P = 0.0001), and WOMAC function subscale improved from 41.78 ± 10.17 to 24.61 ± 9.86 points (P = 0.0001). Conclusions: Intra articular ozone is capable of decreasing pain and stiffness and improving function and quality of life, as well as decreasing serum uric acid in knee OA patients.