What Researchers Did
Researchers reviewed existing studies on hyperbaric oxygen therapy as an add-on treatment for nerve injuries that occur during or after surgery.
What They Found
This scoping review analyzed 51 studies (40 animal, 11 human) on hyperbaric oxygen therapy for peripheral nerve injury linked to surgery or anesthesia, finding it was reported as beneficial in 88% (45 of 51) of all included studies, including 82% of human studies and 90% of animal studies. Benefits included improved nerve regeneration and/or faster recovery time. No major adverse events were reported. Treatment protocols varied widely across studies and were used at both early and late points after the injury occurred.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
This is a scoping review with a narrative synthesis rather than a systematic review with formal quality assessment, most included studies were in animals rather than humans, and treatment protocols were highly inconsistent across studies, making it hard to identify one optimal approach.