What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a systematic review of 17 studies involving 640 head and neck cancer patients to evaluate HBOT's effectiveness in treating late radiation tissue damage.
What They Found
Of 17 studies reviewed, 14 (82%) reported positive outcomes with HBOT for late radiation injury. Nearly all studies examining osteoradionecrosis and oral health reported beneficial effects, with significant p-values in 11 studies. Adverse effects from HBOT were rare across all studies.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For Canadians who have completed radiation treatment for throat, mouth, or neck cancer and are dealing with painful or slow-healing tissue damage including jaw bone necrosis, HBOT has a strong evidence track record. This is particularly relevant because osteoradionecrosis is an OHIP-covered indication for HBOT in Ontario.
Canadian Relevance
Osteoradionecrosis and delayed radiation injury to head and neck tissues are OHIP-covered indications for HBOT in Ontario. Patients with these complications should ask their oncologist for a referral to a hyperbaric center.
Study Limitations
Most included studies were low quality with high risk of bias, small sample sizes, and inconsistent outcome measures, limiting how much confidence can be placed in the overall positive findings.