Experimental mandibular osteomyelitis: therapeutic trials with hyperbaric oxygen.

Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) has been reported to be beneficial in the treatment of mandibular osteomyelitis; however, controlled laboratory studies have been limited to the long bones. In this study, osteomyelitis was created in surgically fractured rabbit mandibles by inoculation of Bacteroides melaninogenicus. Two months after inoculation, osteomyelitis was verified by bacterial cultures and inspection of the fracture sites. The animals were then randomly divided into treatment and control groups. The treatment group received HBO (2 atmospheres) for two hours daily for 40 treatment days, whereas the control group was maintained on ambient air. Although HBO therapy did not eliminate the chronic osteomyelitis, it did result in a significant improvement in sinus tract healing, osseous repair, and diminished mobility at the fracture site.