Hyperbaric Oxygen for Adjuvant Therapy for Chronically Recurrent Mandibular Osteomyelitis in Childhood and Adolescence

Purpose In this article, the question of whether adjuvant hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) has a positive effect when treating chronically recurrent mandibular osteomyelitis in children and adolescents is discussed. Patients and Methods Over a period of 5 years, 4 cases were observed, 3 of which were submitted to adjuvant HBO. Details on the modalities of this type of treatment and the simultaneous intravenous administration of high doses of antibiotics are reported. Results All 3 patients have been free of any symptoms from 20 to 74 months (mean, 41 months) and therefore may most likely be regarded as healed. Conclusion The small number of cases does not allow a final statement on the extent to which HBO contributed to the positive outcome. However, in our opinion, HBO is a most promising therapeutic option. Finally, the problems involved in prospective randomized studies of this rare disease are discussed in detail.