Our study appears to indicate a possible survival benefit for the composite grafts in those rabbits that received HBO treatments. We believe that there are several significant difficulties with the rabbit as a model for this study, but we are encouraged at this point that a limited measurable benefit was observed. Further investigations with HBO appear to be warranted at this time.
Objective: To continue investigation regarding the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy in improving survival of reattached auricular composite grafts.Design: A prospective, randomized, double-blind study using 20 New Zealand albino rabbits randomized to a treatment or control group. The treatment group received 30 HBO treatments over 19 days following amputation and reattachment of composite auricular grafts. The control group received standard care. Ears were examined grossly and microscopically on postoperative day 21 to determine the percentage of graft survival.
Results:The mean percentage of graft survival for the 2 separate grafts (a larger 1.5 ϫ 4.0-cm and a smaller
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