What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a case series on six nonirradiated patients experiencing compromised wound healing after intraoral bone grafting, treating them with hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
What They Found
All six patients, who received hyperbaric oxygen therapy 7 to 26 times at 2.5 ATA, experienced uneventful healing of their intraoral wounds. Retrospectively, almost all patients had a history of chronic maxillary sinusitis or trauma to the operated area.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For Canadian patients undergoing intraoral bone grafting who experience compromised wound healing, hyperbaric oxygen therapy may offer a beneficial adjunctive treatment option. This could help resolve persistent wound dehiscences, particularly in those with predisposing factors like chronic maxillary sinusitis or prior trauma.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
A significant limitation of this study is its design as a small case series, which provides a low level of evidence and lacks a control group.