What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a telephone survey of 76 hyperbaric chambers in the UK to determine the number of osteoradionecrosis patients treated and the protocols used during 2006-07.
What They Found
A total of 25 hyperbaric chambers in the UK treated 273 patients with osteoradionecrosis (ORN) between 2006 and 2007. Of these, 10 were British Hyperbaric Association (BHA) listed chambers and 15 were multiple sclerosis (MS) centres, with MS centres treating 23 (8%) of patients using different protocols. Most BHA chambers used a protocol of 2.2 ATA for 90 minutes per session, with 30 preoperative and 10 postoperative sessions per patient.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
This study provides insight into the varying hyperbaric oxygen therapy protocols used for osteoradionecrosis, which could inform treatment discussions for Canadian patients. Understanding different approaches may help patients and clinicians consider optimal treatment strategies for this condition.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection as it was conducted entirely within the United Kingdom.
Study Limitations
This study was a telephone survey limited to hyperbaric chambers in the UK, focusing on treatment patterns rather than clinical outcomes or efficacy.