Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy as a Complementary Treatment for Osteoradionecrosis of the Mandible: Useless or Useful? - A Literature Review

Abstract

Radiotherapy (RT) is a key component of managing head and neck cancer patients. However, despite the emer gence and improvement of new RT techniques, late complications may occur, such as osteoradionecrosis of the mandible (ORNM). The diagnosis is based on clinical/radiological criteria. In the established ORNM, the chronic process does not solve spontaneously, and optimal management still needs to be established. Over the last decades, a broad therapeutic spectrum has been considered, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). Al though, the clinical impact of HBOT varies according to the literature, which is why there is a current controversy regarding its benefits. Further prospective and randomised studies are needed to validate its effectiveness in the ‘real-world’ clinical practice. This article aims to synthesise the existing data, analyse previous studies´ results, identify gaps in knowledge, and discuss ORNM’ management, including a proposal for an algorithm, with a par t icular focus on HBOT.