Ozone therapy in femoral head necrosis: a perspective on biomarker-guided treatment rationalization and mechanistic exploration

TL;DR

This paper explores how ozone therapy might help treat femoral head necrosis by using biomarkers to better understand and personalize treatment.

Contribution

The paper introduces a biomarker-guided framework to rationalize and standardize ozone therapy for femoral head necrosis.

Findings

Ozone therapy shows potential in modulating oxidative stress and inflammation in FHN.

Current ozone therapy lacks standardized protocols and consistent clinical evidence.

Biomarkers could help translate ozone effects into personalized treatment strategies.

Abstract

Femoral head necrosis (FHN) is a progressive and disabling disorder caused by compromised blood supply to the femoral head. Current treatments primarily aim to slow progression. However, they often fail to reverse early-stage necrosis or reliably prevent disease advancement. Importantly, most approaches lack precise molecular targets for early intervention. Ozone therapy has emerged as a potential option because of its pleiotropic biological effects, such as modulating oxidative stress, improving microcirculation, and exerting anti-inflammatory activity. However, its mechanisms remain poorly understood. Clinical evidence is limited and inconsistent, and the absence of standardized protocols hinders evidence-based implementation. To address these gaps, this perspective proposes biomarkers as a translational bridge linking ozone-induced biological responses to FHN pathology. We further outline a dynamic, biomarker-guided framework through which ozone therapy can evolve from an empirical intervention into a mechanism-informed, personalized, and more standardized precision strategy. This approach offers a scientifically grounded pathway for advancing the clinical management of FHN.

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