What Researchers Did
Researchers prospectively treated ten hemodialysis-dependent patients with chronic osteomyelitis using adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen therapy, alongside aggressive surgical debridement and antibiotic treatment.
What They Found
Successful treatment was achieved in 80% of patients (8 out of 10), with the mean length of hyperbaric oxygen therapy being 21 days. These preliminary results suggest hyperbaric oxygen is an effective adjunct for chronic refractory osteomyelitis in this patient group.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients on hemodialysis suffering from chronic osteomyelitis might benefit from adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen therapy. This treatment could offer an additional option when standard medical and surgical approaches are insufficient.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
A significant limitation of this study is its small sample size of ten patients and its preliminary nature.