What Researchers Did
Researchers reviewed 17 cases of facial bone osteoradionecrosis treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy, with or without surgery, in Adelaide, South Australia, between 1987 and 1996.
What They Found
Of 17 facial bone osteoradionecrosis cases, 11 involved the mandible, with 9 occurring after dental extractions, and all responded to hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy, with or without surgery. The 3 temporal bone cases were all stage I and responded to HBO alone, demonstrating the effectiveness of HBO plus or minus surgery.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients diagnosed with osteoradionecrosis of the facial bones may benefit from hyperbaric oxygen therapy, potentially combined with surgery, as an effective treatment approach. This treatment could help manage symptoms and improve outcomes for those experiencing this complication after head and neck radiotherapy.
Canadian Relevance
This study was conducted in Australia and has no direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
This study is limited by its small sample size of 17 cases and its retrospective, single-center design, which may limit generalizability.