What Researchers Did
Researchers evaluated 495 children and adolescents with acute lymphoblastic leukemia between 2000 and 2017 to study the incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of osteonecrosis, including the effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
What They Found
Out of 495 patients, 23 (4.6%) developed osteonecrosis, which was significantly associated with older age (p<0.0001) and higher steroid doses (p=0.0013). Hyperbaric oxygen therapy was administered to 8 of these 23 patients, and during follow-up, 15 patients remained stable, with 6 being asymptomatic.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian children and adolescents with acute lymphoblastic leukemia could benefit from early screening for osteonecrosis using MRI, even if asymptomatic, to initiate conservative treatments promptly. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy may also offer a beneficial treatment option for those affected.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
The study was observational and did not include a randomized controlled trial for the hyperbaric oxygen therapy intervention.