OBJECTIVETo evaluate the feasibility of no antibiotic administration to prevent infection during the perioperative period of percutaneous intradiscal ozone-injection for treatment of lumbar disc herniation.

METHODSSeventy-two patients with lumbar disc herniation but normal body temperature as well as normal results of three routine tests (blood, urine, stool) and C-reactive protein (CRP) level were randomly divided into two groups. The patients in prophylaxis group were given cephalothin V(2.0 g) intravenous 30 min before the operation, and the control group did not use any antibiotics. All the patients were injected with 6-10 ml ozone (40 microg/ml) for medical use into the discs with 21G needles under fluoroscopic guidance, followed by 10 ml ozone into the paravertebral space. Three days later the general examinations and CRP measurement were repeated.

RESULTSNo infection was found in these patients, nor were any significant differences noted in the results of the examinations between the two groups after controlling in patients with above-normal white blood cell count, neutrophil percentage and CRP level.

CONCLUSIONProphylaxis antibiotics is not necessary during the perioperative period of percutaneous intradiscal ozone injection for lumbar disc herniation.