What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a retrospective analysis of 276 consecutive patients treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy for chronic radiation-induced tissue injuries at a single unit in Townsville, Queensland, Australia, between March 1995 and March 2008.
What They Found
Among 189 patients with complete follow-up data, osteoradionecrosis prophylaxis showed an overall response rate of 96% (P=0.00003). Established osteoradionecrosis of the mandible, soft tissue necrosis of the head and neck, and xerostomia had response rates of 86% (P=0.00001), 85% (P=0.002), and 64% (P=0.0001) respectively. The total complication rate after hyperbaric oxygen therapy was 15.9%, mainly comprising reversible ear barotrauma (10.6%) and reversible ocular barotrauma (4.2%).
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients experiencing chronic radiation-induced tissue injuries, such as osteoradionecrosis or proctitis, might find hyperbaric oxygen therapy to be a beneficial treatment option. This therapy could potentially improve their quality of life by effectively managing severe and debilitating side effects of radiation treatment.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection as it was conducted in Australia.
Study Limitations
A key limitation is the retrospective design and the assessment of only 68% of the initial patient cohort due to incomplete follow-up data.