What Researchers Did
Researchers compared the therapeutic effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy to prednisone treatment in 79 subjects with Bell's palsy.
What They Found
At the 9-month follow-up, 95.2% of subjects treated with hyperbaric oxygen recovered completely, compared to 75.7% of those treated with prednisone. The average time to complete recovery was 22 days in the hyperbaric oxygen group versus 34.4 days in the prednisone group (P < 0.001).
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients with Bell's palsy might achieve faster and more complete recovery with hyperbaric oxygen therapy than with prednisone. This could lead to a quicker resolution of symptoms and improved daily functioning.
Canadian Relevance
This study did not include Canadian participants or research sites, so there is no direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
The study's findings are based on a relatively small sample size from a single center, which may limit generalizability.