What Researchers Did
Researchers studied the effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in 30 patients with osteoradionecrosis and irradiation-induced wounds between November 2011 and December 2018.
What They Found
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy was found to be a useful adjunct for surgery in managing osteoradionecrosis and post-irradiation wounds, including 20 patients with oral cavity injuries. Only one patient out of 30 experienced a complication (reversible myopia), with no other adverse events noted.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients undergoing radiation therapy who develop osteoradionecrosis or other non-healing wounds might benefit from hyperbaric oxygen therapy as an additional treatment option. This therapy could potentially improve healing and outcomes, particularly in complex cases where surgical intervention is challenging or not possible.
Canadian Relevance
This study was conducted outside of Canada, so its direct Canadian relevance is limited.
Study Limitations
A key limitation of this study is its small sample size of 30 patients and its single-center, observational design without a control group.