What Researchers Did
Clinicians reviewed the evidence for using HBOT to treat a range of serious wounds in the face, head, and neck, including radiation injuries, bone death, skin necrosis from fillers, and severe infections.
What They Found
The most common HBOT protocol used was 2–2.4 ATA for 90 minutes per session over 30 daily sessions. Retrospective studies consistently support HBOT as an add-on treatment for radiation-related wounds, damaged tissue flaps, and necrotizing soft tissue infections in the head and neck region. For jaw bone loss caused by radiation (osteoradionecrosis), an emerging drug protocol called PENTOCLO may outperform HBOT.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Head and neck cancer patients who develop radiation damage are among the most complex wound cases in medicine. HBOT is a practical option to consider after radiation injury, particularly when bone or soft tissue of the jaw or neck is involved.
Canadian Relevance
Osteoradionecrosis (ORN) and delayed radiation injury are OHIP-covered indications for HBOT in Ontario. This review directly supports the clinical case for coverage.
Study Limitations
Most of the supporting evidence comes from retrospective studies rather than randomized controlled trials, limiting the certainty of conclusions.