Fulminating septicemia secondary to oxygen-ozone therapy for lumbar disc herniation: case report.
METHODS
A case report and clinical discussion.


OBJECTIVE
To describe a rare but fatal complication secondary to oxygen-ozone therapy for the treatment of herniated lumbar disc.


BACKGROUND
Previously reported complications secondary to oxygen-ozone therapy are rarely reported. Septic discitis and epidural abscesses have been reported after myelography, lumbar puncture, paravertebral injections, epidural anesthesia, acupuncture, and intradiscal therapy with chymopapain. We report the first case of a local infection with systemic fatal dissemination secondary to this treatment.


METHODS
A 57-year-old man previously treated with oxygen-ozone therapy presented low back and bilateral pain. The lumbar computed tomography revealed the presence of L4-L5 and L5-S1 herniated discs.


RESULTS
Three days after admission in the hospital, the patient developed a fulminant septicemia. An abdominal-pelvic and chest computed tomography and blood culture led to the diagnosis of pyogenic lumbar muscle involvement, accompanied with septic pulmonary embolism secondary to Escherichia coli infection.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Gazzeri
Roberto
R
Department of Neurosurgery, Ospedale San Giovanni Addolorata, Rome, Italy.
Galarza
Marcelo
M
Neroni
Massimiliano
M
Esposito
Stefano
S
Alfieri
Alex
A
D000208:Acute Disease; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010126:Ozone / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011859:Radiography; D018805:Sepsis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology
D010126:Ozone