[Value of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the treatment of malignant otitis externa. Apropos of a case].

The authors report the case of a 75 years old insulin dependent diabetic man presenting a malignant otitis externa with facial nerve paralysis. Despite prolonged, adequate parenteral antibiotic therapy, the patient's clinical status did not improve. The addition of hyperbaric oxygen as a complementary treatment was followed by the regression of clinical signs and the resolution of infection. Based upon a review of the literature, the authors discuss the indications for this therapy and the problems involved in defining the criteria of cure in malignant otitis externa.