Effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on the duration of treatment of spinal tuberculosis

The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the effect of adjuvant hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy on the duration of antibiotic treatment and rate of radiological improvement in the management of spinal tuberculosis. We reviewed a total of 51 patients with tuberculous spondylitis of the spine who were treated by percutaneous abscess drainage or radical surgical debridement with chemotherapy, and of whom 16 randomly selected patients also received adjuvant HBO therapy and 35 did not. Serological markers were monitored in the course of treatment. Percutaneous needle biopsy was performed on each patient before treatment. Spine and chest radiographs, CT scans and MRI were performed. Infection control was achieved in all patients and no recurrence occured. To our knowledge this is the first reported series of patients with spinal tuberculosis treated with HBO therapy as an adjunct to antituberculous chemotherapy. This combination provided earlier clinical and radiologic improvement than chemotherapy alone.