What Researchers Did
Researchers evaluated the clinical outcome of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in 27 patients with chronic osteomyelitis of the mandible treated between 2000 and 2004.
What They Found
Among 27 patients, 7 out of 13 (54%) with no prior treatment were relapse-free after hyperbaric oxygen therapy. In contrast, only 4 of 9 (44%) patients with prior antimicrobial and surgical treatment achieved relapse-free status. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy was also successful in 3 of 4 younger patients with one local relapse after antimicrobial treatment.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For Canadian patients suffering from chronic osteomyelitis of the mandible, hyperbaric oxygen therapy may offer a non-surgical treatment option. This approach could potentially help avoid more invasive ablative surgeries in some cases, particularly for those with less complex medical histories.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection as it was conducted in Germany.
Study Limitations
The study's retrospective, single-center design and small sample size of 27 patients limit the generalizability of its findings.