What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a systematic review to evaluate the effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for treating thermal burns.
What They Found
Of four identified trials, two met inclusion criteria. One trial found no difference in length of stay, mortality, or number of surgeries between HBOT and control groups. The second trial reported significantly shorter mean healing times with HBOT (19.7 days) compared to control (43.8 days).
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For Canadian patients with thermal burns, this review suggests that current evidence is insufficient to definitively recommend hyperbaric oxygen therapy. While one study indicated a potential for faster healing, the overall quality of research makes it difficult to draw firm conclusions.
Canadian Relevance
Thermal burns are a Health Canada-recognised indication for hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Study Limitations
The primary limitation of this review was the poor methodological quality of the included randomised controlled trials.