What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a systematic review to evaluate the effectiveness of adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen treatment for malignant otitis externa.
What They Found
The systematic review identified zero randomized controlled trials investigating hyperbaric oxygen therapy for malignant otitis externa. Consequently, no clear evidence was found to demonstrate the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen therapy compared to standard treatments like antibiotics or surgery.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients with malignant otitis externa should continue to rely on established treatments such as antibiotics and surgery. There is currently no evidence to support the use of adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen therapy for this condition.
Canadian Relevance
This systematic review has no specific Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
The primary limitation of this systematic review was the complete absence of randomized controlled trials on hyperbaric oxygen therapy for malignant otitis externa.