What Researchers Did
Researchers retrospectively analyzed 42 diabetic patients with necrotizing otitis externa, comparing those treated with antibiotics alone (23 cases) to those receiving antibiotics plus hyperbaric oxygenotherapy (19 cases).
What They Found
The study included 42 diabetic patients with a mean age of 67 years. Patients receiving hyperbaric oxygenotherapy (HOT) experienced faster resolution of symptoms, with otalgia disappearing at day 5 compared to day 11 for those without HOT, and otorrhea disappearing at day 6 with HOT versus day 13 without HOT.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection as it was conducted in Tunisia and does not involve Canadian researchers or patients.
Study Limitations
This was a retrospective study with a relatively small sample size of 42 patients, which limits the generalizability and strength of its conclusions.