ABSTRACT
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy(HBO) is defined as breathing 100% oxygen while in an enclosed system pressurized to greater than on atmosphere(sea level). This increased oxygen delivery furthers your body's ability to kill germs and to increase healing. HBO is a supplemental therapy to be used in addition to the current medical and surgical therapy you are receiving. HBO typically is used to complement treatments of medical problems such as bone infections, complication of radiotherapy, and certain chronic, non-healing wounds. On an emergency basis, the chamber also is used to treat problems such as carbon monoxide poisoning and the decompression sickness. We analysed stastically cases which are treated by hyperbaric oxygen therapy in point of oral and maxillofacial region on the Kangnam General Hospital for aid in comprehension and application of this therapy. Total 760 patients were treated at Gangnam Gneral Hospital from July 1996 to September 1999. They were classifed by region to Decompression sickness(DCS), Carbon monoxide poisoning(CO), General surgery(GS), Orthopedics(OS), Oral and Maxillofacial surgery(OMFS), others. Patients of Oral and Maxillofacial surgery were divided by diseses to Osteomyelitis, Osteoradionecrosis, Reconstruction, Bone graft, Difficult wounds, others. The results were as follows. 1. This institute conducts HBO therapy for DCS which takes up 62% and 10.5% for OMF region. 2. In OMF region, Osteomyelitis is 40%, Osteoradionecrosis is next, Bone graft, and Reconstruction is a row. 3. According to our precious study, HBO has been frequently conducted in OMF region compared to past, however, it is less actively conducted in this area for reserch than other conturies. Therefore, We need further application to the clinical use.