title: [Evaluation of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in treatment of patients with osteomyelitis of the mandible].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic osteomyelitis of the jaw is a relapsing disease with multiple treatment strategies described in the literature. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is one of them. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcome of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in these patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients with a chronic osteomyelitis of the mandible who received in our department hyperbaric oxygen therapy between 2000 and 2004 were included in this study. The clinical outcome (lack of symptoms e.g. pain, swelling, etc.) was the pivotal evaluation parameter. All patients were divided in three groups according to their medical history. Group 1: All patients with osteomyelitis of the mandible, who received no treatment before. Group 2: All patients with one local relapse, who received only antimicrobial treatment. Group 3: Patients with at least one local relapse after antimicrobial and surgical treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  27 patients were evaluated in this study. Seven out of 13 patients in group 1 were relapse free after performing 40 hyperbaric oxygen therapies. However, only 4 of 9 patients in group 3 were relapse free after treatment. In group 2 the hyperbaric oxygen therapy was successful particularly in the younger patients (3 of 4).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adjuvant hyperbaric oxygen therapy was successful in the treatment of patients with chronic recurrent osteomyelitis of the mandible. Therefore, it is an treatment option which can avoid ablative surgery in some cases.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Kiefer- und Plastische Gesichtschirurgie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Moorenstr. 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany. handschel@med.uni-duesseldorf.de
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Handschel
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brüssermann
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Depprich
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ommerborn
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Naujoks
authors.forename: Norbert R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Kübler
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Meyer
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008334:Mandible / Q000601:surgery; D008336:Mandibular Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000628:therapy*; D012008:Recurrence; D019233:Retreatment