What Researchers Did
Researchers in Oman studied 20 patients with a severe ear infection called malignant otitis externa (MOE) who were treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT).
What They Found
All 20 patients showed high inflammatory markers and abnormal CT scans before treatment. They received an average of 29 HBOT sessions, and 19 out of 20 patients (95%) were considered cured by the end of the treatment.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For Canadian patients diagnosed with malignant otitis externa, particularly those with diabetes, this study suggests HBOT could be a promising treatment. It indicates a high potential for recovery from this aggressive ear infection.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
As a case series, this study lacks a control group, which limits its ability to definitively prove the effectiveness of HBOT.