What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a pilot study to investigate the role of adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen therapy in 16 patients with bisphosphonate-associated osteonecrosis of the jaw.
What They Found
Fourteen of 16 patients (87.5%) improved in stage, with a significant decrease in the size and number of osteonecrosis lesions after hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Immediately after treatment, 7 patients (44%) were in remission and 8 (50%) had stabilized, with 10 patients (62.5%) remaining in remission or stabilized at follow-up. Patients who continued bisphosphonate treatment during HBO2 therapy had a shorter time to failure (8.5 months) compared to those who discontinued the drug (20.1 months).
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For Canadian patients experiencing bisphosphonate-associated osteonecrosis of the jaw, hyperbaric oxygen therapy may offer a potential adjunctive treatment option to improve lesion stage and reduce lesion size. Discontinuing bisphosphonate medication, if medically appropriate, might lead to a longer-lasting positive response to hyperbaric oxygen treatment.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection as it was not conducted in Canada, nor did it involve Canadian researchers or patients.
Study Limitations
This was a pilot study with a small sample size (16 patients) and lacked a control group, limiting the generalizability of its findings.