What Researchers Did
Researchers followed 35 patients with early-stage osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH), bone death in the hip, who received 35 sessions of HBOT over 7 weeks and were then monitored with MRI and clinical tests for up to two years.
What They Found
At the two-year follow-up, Harris Hip Scores (function/pain) improved significantly (p = 0.001), as did VAS pain scores (p = 0.001). MRI findings also improved: lesion classification (JIC), bone lesion size (Modified Kerboul Angle), and bone marrow edema severity all improved significantly (all p ≤ 0.03). No serious side effects from HBOT were reported.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Osteonecrosis of the femoral head can progress to hip collapse requiring total hip replacement if left untreated or treated too late. This study shows HBOT can produce real, measurable improvements in both pain and MRI findings over two years, offering Canadians with early-stage ONFH a non-surgical option worth pursuing before considering joint replacement. This is particularly relevant to younger patients who want to delay or avoid surgery.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
This prospective study had no control group and only 35 patients, so results may reflect natural disease variation or placebo effect rather than HBOT's direct impact alone.