What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a literature review to evaluate the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) as an adjuvant treatment for necrotizing fasciitis (NF) in the maxillofacial region.
What They Found
Out of 3333 identified studies, only 16 articles met the inclusion criteria for this review. The review concluded that aggressive combinations of antibiotics, surgical debridement, and adjuvant hyperbaric oxygen therapy, often with immunoglobulin therapy, show promising results for necrotizing fasciitis in the maxillofacial region.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients with necrotizing fasciitis in the maxillofacial region may benefit from hyperbaric oxygen therapy as an additional treatment alongside standard antibiotics and surgical debridement. This approach could potentially improve outcomes for this rare and dangerous soft tissue infection.
Canadian Relevance
This review did not include any specific Canadian data or studies.
Study Limitations
The review was limited by the small number of eligible studies (16 articles) and highlights the need for more multi-centric research.