Successful treatment of severe venous leg ulcers (VLUs) and diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) using ozone.

Background: Venous leg ulcers (VLUs) and diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are chronic wounds associated with significant morbidity, high recurrence rates, and poor healing outcomes. Conventional treatments often fail to achieve satisfactory results, leading to prolonged pain, infection risks, and reduced quality of life. Oxygen-ozone therapy (OOT) has emerged as a potential adjunct to conventional wound care, with antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and tissue-regenerating properties. This study evaluates the efficacy of OOT in treating severe VLUs and DFUs.

Methods: A total of 25 patients (mean age 57.2 ± 10.51 SD) with refractory VLUs (n=18) or DFUs (n=7) received OOT alongside standard care. Treatment protocols included major autohaemotherapy (O2-O3-MAHT), topical ozone application, and localized ozone injections. Clinical assessments included pain scoring (Numeric Rating Scale, NRS), microbiological evaluations, and logistic regression analysis to determine healing rates.

Results: At four weeks, pain scores decreased by 73.27% (p < 0.0001), and 92% of septic lesions showed negative bacterial cultures. Logistic regression analysis indicated a significant improvement in healing rates (p < 0.0001), with 80% of patients achieving complete wound closure. Inflammatory markers were reduced, and tissue regeneration was enhanced.

Conclusions: OOT demonstrated substantial efficacy in reducing infection, alleviating pain, and promoting wound healing in patients with severe VLUs and DFUs. These findings support the use of OOT as a valuable adjunctive treatment. Further large-scale, randomized trials are needed to optimize treatment protocols and confirm long-term benefits.