Hyperbaric oxygen therapy and its role in the treatment of chronic osteomyelitis: a preliminary report involving refractory osteomyelitis in the foot.

Osteomyelitis, both acute and chronic, is difficult to treat and often does not respond to conventional methods of therapy. Hyperbaric oxygen can be used as an adjunctive treatment in chronic refractory osteomyelitis after all other types of therapy have proved unsuccessful or response is slow. Risk factors and cost must be considered when deciding whether to use hyperbaric oxygen in conjunction with other methods of therapy.