Title : When the Ozone layer fails to protect, Ozone oil heals: A case report on the use of topical Ozone therapy as an adjuvant in the treatment of complicated wounds
Abstract:
Wounds in diabetics tend to heal slowly and are often associated with difficult-to-treat infections that, in most cases, require surgical intervention. Inefficient protection and accidental injuries can cause ulcers that, in more severe cases, lead to the amputation of part or all of the limb. Ozone is a gas that was initially discovered as an oxidant and disinfectant in 1834 and played an important role in the treatment of amputations in soldiers during the First World War. Since then, numerous studies have evaluated the effects of ozone in the treatment of skin wounds. Topical ozone therapy is an adjuvant in the treatment of chronic wounds in diabetics due to its antimicrobial and neoangiogenesis promoting effects, increasing local irrigation, accelerating the formation of granulation tissue and reducing healing time. We describe the case of a 85-year-old female, diabetic and hypertensive, who suffered a third-degree sunburn on her right thigh during sun exposure following a fall with loss of consciousness of approximately 4-6 hours in an agricultural field. The wound presented recurrent infections and stagnation of the healing process despite prolonged dressing care and surgical debridement. Topical ozone therapy with ozonated sunflower oil was introduced as an adjuvant to conventional therapy. As such, there was a significant increase in the healing process speed, reduction of purulent exudate, rapid formation of granulation tissue, repair of a large area of the wound and pain relief. There was one episode of recurrent infection, which was treated with debridement and antibiotic therapy with good response. Complete healing occurred in approximately 90 days after the introduction of ozone therapy.
