What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a scoping review to characterize rehabilitative outcomes of hyperbaric oxygen therapy as an adjunct for perioperative peripheral nerve injury, including 51 studies (40 animal, 11 human) published until June 11, 2022.
What They Found
The review included 51 studies, comprising 40 animal and 11 human investigations, examining hyperbaric oxygen therapy for peripheral nerve injury. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy protocols were highly heterogeneous and applied at both early and late intervals relative to the injury time.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For Canadian patients experiencing perioperative peripheral nerve injury, hyperbaric oxygen therapy remains an area of uncertain benefit, as current evidence shows highly variable treatment protocols. More research is needed to determine if and how this therapy could effectively improve rehabilitative outcomes.
Canadian Relevance
This scoping review was conducted by Canadian researchers, indicating active Canadian involvement in exploring potential treatments for perioperative peripheral nerve injury.
Study Limitations
A key limitation is the high heterogeneity of hyperbaric oxygen therapy protocols across the included studies, making it difficult to draw definitive conclusions.