Introduction: To investigate retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), macular, foveal and parafoveal thickness in patient with early stage Parkinson's (PD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and to compare results with healthy control group and between both disease. Methods: Participants with AD dementia (n: 15) and PD (n: 15), besides 15 age-sex matched controls were enrolled in the study and received OCT assessments. Clinical disability grade in PD was determined by the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale and Hoehn Yahr (H-Y) Scale was used to determine the stage of PD. Standardized Mini Mental Test (SMMT) and Montreal Cognitive Rating Scale (MOCA) were used for neurocognitive evaluation of patients with AD. The relationship between OCT and test results was analyzed. Results: OCT measurements did show significant decrease in temporal, nasal, inferiorR (R means examination of retina in two sections as superior and inferior instead of four quadrants) RNFL thickness and fovea', parafoveal, macular thickness of AD group compared to control group. Temporal, inferior and inferiorR RNFL thickness were thinner in patients with PD than those of control group but these differences were not significant. However the superiorR and superior RNFL thickness decreased significantly in the PD group as the disease duration increased. There was no relationship between SMMT, MOCA, UPDRS, H-Y scores and OCT results. Conclusion: As several studies have reported different results so far, we thought that the use of OCT in early diagnosis and follow-up of the course of both diseases was not appropriate until many studies indicated the same result.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate and compare the therapeutic effects of fluoroscopy-guided triple shoulder injections with steroids and, a combination of steroids and ozone. Methods: Data were retrospectively collected from the files of 70 patients diagnosed with non-specific chronic shoulder pain and received triple shoulder injections. The patients were divided into two groups. One group included triple shoulder injections with steroids under fluoroscopic guidance, while the other group included combination of steroids and ozone. Pain intensity was evaluated with the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), the patient's quality of life and functionality were assessed using the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), and the active range of motion (ROM) of shoulder abduction, external rotation, and flexion were measured by goniometry. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was used to measure the severity of depression before the procedure. All measurements were recorded at baseline and 1, 3, and 6 months after the procedure. Results: Baseline characteristics were similar in both groups. There was no statistical difference in VAS scores between the two groups at baseline, 1st, and 3rd months. However, in the 6th months, the VAS scores of patients treated with steroids plus ozone were significantly lower than those of patients treated with steroids (P<0.001). Both groups showed significant improvements in SPADI pain, disability, and total subscores compared to pre-treatment values (P < 0.001). There was a significant improvement in the ROM of the shoulder joint in both groups (p<0.001). However, patients who received ozone and steroid treatments showed a significantly greater increase in SPADI and ROM of shoulder joints in the 6th months (p<0.001). There was a positive correlation between BDI score and pain duration, and the severity of depression had no statistically significant effect on VAS scores. Conclusion: Results of this study revealed that triple shoulder injection with steroids or a combination of steroids and ozone proved to be an effective therapeutic approach for patients suffering from shoulder pain and limited mobility. The combination of ozone with steroids may lead to better results than using steroids alone. Furthermore, a long duration of pain increases the risk of chronic depression in patients.

Ozone has recently been employed in the treatment of low back pain which is a prevalent cause of disability in the population. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the steroids alone or steroids plus ozone during epiduroscopy for chronic low back and radicular lower extremity pain. The files of 76 individuals with chronic lumbar and lower extremity pain who had undergone posterior epiduroscopy were analyzed. One group applied steroids and standard treatment with saline for mechanical disintegration of scarring tissue in the epidural area. Other patients were injected with ozone and steroids in addition to standard treatment. Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores were performed before and following the intervention, at the 1st, 3rd, 6th, and 12th months. The degree of epidural scar tissue was also recorded during epiduroscopy. The classification of pain as either neuropathic or non-neuropathic was determined by the DN4 (Douleur Neuropathique 4) questionnaire. Results of the Patients Satisfaction Scale were noted in the 12th month. Pre- and post-procedure analgesic use and complications were recorded. There were 35 and 41 patients in the steroid alone and steroid plus ozone groups, respectively. Patient characteristics were similar, and both treatment groups showed significant differences in mean VAS and ODI scores compared to baseline (p˂0.001). However, the reduction in VAS scores was more significant in the ozone-added patients. The mean disability scores were comparable for the two groups at all follow-up points. Neuropathic pain was present in 42.9% of patients in the steroid-alone group and 34.1% in the combination group and, on follow-up 11 and 25 patients discontinued medication. The findings revealed the presence of moderate to severe fibrous tissue in 94.3% and 80.5% of the patients, respectively. Satisfied/very satisfied with the procedure was reported by 71% of subjects in the steroid-alone group and 92% of subjects in the steroid-plus-ozone group. The combination of epidural ozone with steroids may be a viable option for the management of persistent lumbar and radicular limb pain. For individuals with lumbar herniated discs, this modality has been demonstrated to be both safe and efficacious. Not applicable (Retrospective Study).

Background/Objectives: Cervical facet-mediated pain is a significant underlying factor of persistent neck pain (CNP). Pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) or conventional radiofrequency (CRF) has been introduced as a treatment alternative. However, comparative clinical data remain limited. Methods: This single-center retrospective cohort study analyzed patients with cervical facet-mediated pain who underwent PRF (n = 40) or CRF (n = 44) between January 2023 and December 2024. The success of the procedure was assessed using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) and the Neck Disability Index (NDI) before the procedures and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months following the injections. Patients’ feedback was evaluated using the Global Perceived Effect (GPE) scale. Results: For both groups, a substantial decrease in the mean pain and disability severity was recorded between the initial measurement and the first, third, and sixth months of follow-up, but the outcomes were significant only in the CRF group at the 12th month. The groups did not show a substantial difference in terms of pain relief, disability improvement, medication use, or patient satisfaction at one and three months (p > 0.05), but at six and 12 months, patients treated with CRF showed significantly greater outcomes (p < 0.001). No notable difference in complication rates was found between the PRF (10%) and CRF (16%) groups (p = 0.53). Conclusions: Both pulsed and conventional radiofrequency ablation effectively reduced pain and improved function in the early-midterm follow-up. However, CRF provided more sustained relief and greater patient-reported success at 6 and 12 months, without an increase in complication rates, suggesting that CRF may offer a more durable long-term treatment option.

This study primarily aims to evaluate the effectiveness of thoracic interlaminar epidural injections in alleviating pain and enhancing function in patients with chronic mid and/or upper back pain. One hundred patients were randomly divided into 2 groups, 50 patients in each. Group I received only a local anesthetic, whereas Group II received a combination of local anesthetic and steroids. The random assignment to either Group I or Group II was determined using a simple computer-generated sequence. The results were evaluated using the numeric rating scale and the revised Oswestry Disability Index. Patients who showed significant improvement for >4 weeks after the first 2 procedures were considered successful. Those who did not were classified as failed participants. Significant improvement was defined as a reduction by >50% in both numeric rating scale and revised Oswestry Disability Index scores, and assessments were conducted at the beginning and 3rd, 6th, and 12th months after the intervention. This study included 100 participants divided into 2 groups. At the 12th month, significant pain relief (≥50%) and a reduction of at least 50% in ODI scores from baseline were observed in 86% of patients in Group I and 90% of patients in Group II. The results achieved in this study suggest that chronic thoracic pain of non-facet joint origin can be managed conservatively using thoracic interlaminar epidural injections, either with or without steroids.