Biological Therapy, No.1, 2006, P.43-45

Antihomotoxic preparations in spinal treatment

Yu.V.Kobets, S.V.Yeliseyev Crimean Medical University named after S.I.Georgievskiy, Simferopol

Use of Homotoxic Preparations in Combination Treatment of Degenerative Dystrophic Spinal Diseases

AbstractEffectiveness of antihomotoxic preparation Traumeel S and complex homeopathic preparation Traumeel S in treatment of degenerative dystrophic spinal diseases was investigated. 40 patients from 30 to 42 years of age with lumbar osteochondrosis, herniated disks and instable lumbar vertebras took part in the study. Patients were divided into two groups to be compared, 20 people per group. Patients of the study group received traditional therapy with Traumeel S and Osteobios added. Traumeel S was administered as injections for paravertebral blockade before surgery, and ointment was rubbed into skin around postoperative wound. Osteobios was used at the dosage of 8 drops 3 times daily sublingually for 20 days. Control patients received traditional therapy only. Effectiveness of treatments was estimated by the severity of pain syndrome, results of clinical examination, terms of postoperative wound healing, infections and blood alkaline phosphatase level. Positive improvement of articular index, myotonic reaction and pain syndrome was more expressed in the study group patients than in the control group. Blood alkaline phosphatase level in the study group patients at the moment of their discharge was higher compared to these parameter in the control group showing activation of histogenesis in bone tissue. Feasibility of Traumeel S and Osteobios adding into combination treatment of degenerative dystrophic diseases was concluded.

IntroductionSpinal osteochondrosis treatment with concomitant chronic pain syndrome is one of the urgent problems of the contemporary medicine. The disease statistics is enough fragmentary as patients often prefer home care and do not make an appointment with the doctor. Taking into account this fact, the approximate rates of this disorder are varied from 30 to 80 % [1, 2, 3]. The specific character of this abnormality is the incidence peak at working age about 40 years, and approximately 5 % of cases of permanent disability are caused by spinal pain [7]. The rate of the physical disability in the western countries increased since the 50th of the last century.

Conservative treatment of spinal osteochondrosis with root compression symptoms include the use of steroid and non-steroid anti-inflammatory preparations, myorelaxants, medical blockade, physiotherapeutic procedures, etc. However, effectiveness of this treatment remains insufficiently high, and pharmacological agents which are conventionally used can cause serious adverse effects. However, in our opinion, antihomotoxic therapy of osteochondrosis is paid too little attention. This approach is aimed to improve and restore balance of vital processes in human body. Besides, antihomotoxic preparations have no adverse effects typical for allopathic anti-inflammatory agents. The purpose of our study is to evaluate effectiveness of antihomotoxic preparations in treatment of patients with degenerative dystrophic spinal disorders.

Material and methods40 patients from 30 to 42 years of age with lumbar osteochondrosis, herniated disks and instable lumbar vertebras took part in the study. Patients were enrolled into the study according to the following clinical history criteria: painful syndrome resistant to therapy for the last six months and root compression syndrome resistant to conservative therapy for the last two months, osteoporosis detected at the quantitative radiological analysis [4]. Exception criteria included pathology which can lead to increased level of alkaline phosphatase (hyperparathyreosis), osteomalation (rachitis of

any etiology), Paget’s disease (osteitis deformans), Gaucher disease with bone resorption, bone tumours (osteosarcoma), bone metastasises, myeloma, etc. Patients underwent surgery - interlaminectomy, partial facetectomy or unilateral discectomy followed by transpedicular segment fixation.

Patients were divided into two groups, 20 people per group, and compared by patients’ age and character of spinal disorders. Patients of the study group received traditional therapy with antihomotoxic preparations, and control group patients received traditional therapy only. Traumeel S was administered as injections for paravertebral blockade before surgery, and ointment was rubbed into skin around postoperative wound. Osteobios was used at the dosage of 8 drops 3 times daily sublingually for 20 days.

Effectiveness of treatments was estimated by pain syndrome severity, results of clinical examination (Shober test, myotonic reaction, articular index) [5], terms of postoperative wound healing, infections and change of blood alkaline phosphatase. Articular index was estimated by 4 score scale: absence of pain when bending and unbending - 0 score, insignificant pain - 1, moderate pain - 2, intense pain when a patient cannot bend joints - 3 scores. Myotonic reaction was estimated by 4 score scale: absence of paravertebral muscular spasm - 0 scores, local, unilateral myotonic reaction - 1, bilateral moderate reaction - 2, significantly pronounced symmetric reaction (muscles are strained as "stones") - 3 scores. Lumbar pain improvement after blockade while using Traumeel S next day after blockade (the fourth day from the moment of enrolment) was studied. The visual analogue 10-score scale was used for quantitative estimation of pain syndrome [5].

Results and discussionThe analysis of the results revealed that significant decrease in articular index and myotonic reactions in the study and control group patients (Table 1) was observed during the treatment. On the 4th day of therapy patients receiving Traumeel S had these parameters significantly less than in the control group patients (р <0,05) that appeared to be related to anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect of the preparation. When discharged, articular index and myotonic reactions in the study group were less than in the control group while difference between two groups did not achieve the level of the statistical significance (> 0,05).

Besides, we determined Shober test shown that patients’ lumbar bending which was much limited when enrolled (up to 16 sm) was 18,1±0,7 sm in the study patients compared to the control group patients 16,6±0,7 sm on the 4th study day. In spite of the positive tendency this difference was not statistically significant (> 0,05).

Positive dynamics of pain syndrome was also more expressed in the study group patients (Table 2). When enrolled this parameter was similar in the patients of both groups. Traumeel S blockade caused 35 % reduction of pain syndrome severity in the study group patients compared to 9 % reduction which observed in the control group patients. The reduction of pain severity by the moment of patients’ discharge, and the difference between the study and control groups on the 4th day of therapy were statistically significant (р <0,05 in both cases). This persistent pain syndrome decrease in the study group patients appeared to be related to local treatment effect of Traumeel S. As the study results showed, average 1,5-day reduction of postoperative wound healing period was observed in the study group patients compared to the control group patients. No infections were revealed in any groups.

Table 1. Change of articular index and myotonic reaction during therapy in the study and control group patients.

Parameters Study group Control groupEnrolment In 4 days Discharge Enrolment In 4 days Discharge

Articular 2,5±0,4 1,1+0,4 0,2±0,3 2,4±0,4 2,3±0,4* 0,4±0,3

indexMyotonic reaction

2,6+0,4 1,2±0,4 0,1 ±0,2 2,4+0,4 2,35+0,3* 0,2±0,3

* р <0,05 for parameters on the 4th treatment day

.Table 2. Change of expression of pain syndrome during therapy in the study and control group patients.

Parameters Study group Control groupEnrolment In 4 days Discharge Enrolment In 4 days Discharge

Expression of pain syndrome

8,4±0,6 5,3+0,6 2,1±0,4 8,2±0,6 7,5±0,6* 3,1+0,3 **

* р <0,05 for parameters on the 4th treatment day,** р <0,05 - for parameters when discharged.

Since osteoporosis manifestations were seen in all patients when enrolled, Osteobios was added to the combination therapy. This preparation has combination influence on calcium metabolism and bone tissue formation. Moreover, it provides achievement of balanced activity of osteoblasts and osteoclasts in bone formation and resorption imbalance. Alkaline phosphatase level is a biochemical marker of osteoblastic activity. Osteoblasts are large mononuclear cells laying on bone matrix surface in the areas of intensive bone formation. Thus, we investigated serological content of this enzyme in the study and control group patients.

When enrolled, alkaline phosphatase was similar in the study (1395,6±9,0 nmol/s/L) and control (1345,1±7,7 nmol/s/L) group patients (> 0,05). When discharged, significant increase in the enzyme level to average value 1505,8+7,7 nmol/s/L which was significantly higher compared to that in the control group, 1396,5+7,5 nmol/s/L (р <0,05). In spite of alkaline phosphatase increase in the study and control group patients, it was within the normal values, 740-2100 nmol/s/L. In our opinion, this effect was related to Osteobios action proving osteoblastic activity of bone tissue.

Thus, feasibility of Traumeel S and Osteobios adding into combination treatment of degenerative dystrophic diseases was concluded as all these preparations provide effective action on various links of disease pathogenesis. In the acute period intramuscular injection of Traumeel S as paravertebral blockade is more effective. To arrest inflammation and pain syndrome and to accelerate wound healing, Traumeel S ointment can be used. Osteobios improves functions of osteoblasts and osteoclasts, and can be used in various bone tissue dysfunctions.

Conclusions1. Incorporation of antihomotoxic preparation Traumeel S into the combination treatment of degenerative dystrophic spinal diseases allow to raise effectiveness of therapeutic actions that is seen in positive changes of articular index, myotonic reaction and pain syndrome. These effects are related to anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of Traumeel S.2. Use of complex homoeopathic preparation Osteobios in the combination treatment of degenerative dystrophic spinal diseases allow to stimulate bone tissue histogenesis proved by increase in alkaline phosphatase level - an osteoblastic activity marker.

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