Ozone injections reduce pain in knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Pedro Iván Arias-Vázquez, Rosa Giannina Castillo-Avila, Karen Hernández-Gil et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed intra-articular ozone injections versus corticosteroid injections for pain and function in people with knee osteoarthritis. It included seven controlled clinical trials involving 409 participants. Pooled results favored ozone for pain reduction in the short and medium term, and for functional improvement in the medium term. The abstract does not report effect sizes or statistical estimates. The authors considered ozone a possible alternative to corticosteroid injections but cautioned that the limited quality of the included studies prevents definitive conclusions.
Key findings
- Seven clinical trials involving 409 people with knee osteoarthritis were included.
- Pooled analyses favored ozone over corticosteroid injections for pain reduction in the short and medium term.
- Medium-term functional improvement favored ozone injections.
Why it matters
The findings suggest that ozone injections may offer symptom benefits comparable to or greater than corticosteroid injections, an established injection option for knee osteoarthritis. However, the evidence base is limited in quality, so the apparent advantages should be interpreted cautiously and do not establish a reliable comparative benefit.
What to keep in mind
The authors state that the included studies were of limited quality, preventing definitive conclusions.