Osteoradionecrosis Treatment with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Osteoradionecrosis is a serious complication of radiation therapy that causes bone tissue to break down. HBOT promotes healing by rebuilding the blood supply that radiation has destroyed.
Understanding Osteoradionecrosis
Osteoradionecrosis (ORN) is a condition where bone tissue dies as a result of radiation therapy. It most commonly affects the jawbone (mandible) after radiation treatment for head and neck cancers, but it can occur in any bone within the radiation field.
Radiation damages the small blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrients to bone. Over time, this creates a region of bone that is poorly oxygenated, poorly supplied with blood, and unable to repair itself. The bone becomes fragile and prone to breakdown, infection, and non-healing fractures.
Symptoms may include exposed bone, pain, difficulty eating or speaking (when the jaw is involved), drainage, or infection. ORN can develop months or years after completing radiation treatment.
How Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Helps
HBOT is one of the most well-studied treatments for osteoradionecrosis. By delivering high concentrations of oxygen to the affected bone, HBOT stimulates angiogenesis — the growth of new blood vessels — in the radiation-damaged area.
This new blood supply gradually restores the bone's ability to receive oxygen, fight infection, and repair itself. HBOT is also frequently used before and after dental procedures or surgery in irradiated areas to reduce the risk of ORN developing in the first place.
What to Expect During Treatment
Treatment typically involves 30 to 40 HBOT sessions, each lasting approximately 90 minutes at pressure. When used before dental or surgical procedures in irradiated bone, a course of 20 pre-operative sessions followed by 10 post-operative sessions is common.
Your treatment plan is coordinated between our hyperbaric physician, your oncologist, and your oral surgeon or other specialists as needed.
Insurance & Coverage
HBOT for osteoradionecrosis is covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and most major private insurance plans when medically necessary. Our team handles insurance verification and prior authorization so you can focus on healing.
Our team handles the paperwork so you can focus on healing. We will verify your benefits, obtain any required prior authorizations, and keep you informed every step of the way.