Infection control
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Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for refractory osteomyelitis
Refractory osteomyelitis research & care · Scottsdale & Glendale, AZ
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for refractory osteomyelitis
A bone infection that persists or returns after treatment deserves a coordinated reassessment of its cause and source control.
RX-O2 offers a physician-led conversation about the evidence, your diagnosis, and the role of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in your broader care plan. Our Scottsdale and Glendale teams serve patients across the Phoenix area.
Clinical reports describe successful outcomes when HBOT is added to comprehensive care for selected persistent bone infections. We work with your treating clinicians to explore whether this adjunctive approach could support your recovery.
Physician-led care in Scottsdale and Glendale, serving the Phoenix area.
Physician-ledIndividual assessment and treatment planning
FDA-cleared chambersMedical hard-shell hyperbaric equipment
100% medical oxygenDelivered through a mask or hood
NHSA-certified techniciansPreparation, monitoring, and communication
The starting point
Refractory means the infection has resisted appropriate care
Refractory osteomyelitis describes infection that persists or recurs despite accepted management. The details of prior surgery, antibiotic selection, cultures, blood supply, and any implanted hardware matter.
Your orthopedic, infectious-disease, wound, and hyperbaric teams may need to review the plan together. Failure to improve should prompt reassessment of the underlying problem, not an automatic extension of chamber treatment.
The clinical context matters. The evidence is largely observational. HBOT should not delay necessary debridement, culture-directed antibiotics, or management of unstable hardware and other sources of infection.
Connect the research to your goals
What matters in daily life?
Wound progress
Track drainage, closure, and soft-tissue condition when a wound accompanies the bone infection.
Function and stability
Discuss mobility, pain, hardware, and the rehabilitation plan as part of overall recovery.
Your goals help shape the conversation and provide a useful way to follow progress if treatment is prescribed.
Explore the evidence
Refractory osteomyelitis & HBOT research
Explore the findings behind the conversation. These selected publications highlight reported benefits, the patients studied, and the questions researchers are still working to answer.
Literature checked
October 20, 2026
2018 · Systematic review
A systematic review of chronic osteomyelitis reports
Savvidou OD, et al. Orthopedics. 07/01/2018.
Read the publicationThe review summarized cohorts and case reports in patients previously treated with antibiotics and debridement. Many reported successful outcomes with adjunctive HBOT.
How to interpret it: Uncontrolled reports, incomplete data, and selection bias limit interpretation. Their success proportions should not be used as an individual prediction.
2021 · Specialist clinical review
Specialist guidance for refractory osteomyelitis
Hart BB, et al. Undersea & hyperbaric medicine : journal of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society, Inc. 2021 Third Quarter.
Read the publicationThe review describes adjunctive HBOT alongside culture-directed antibiotics and indicated debridement, with reassessment when infection persists or recurs.
How to interpret it: It notes the lack of randomized clinical trials. Clinical use in selected refractory cases is not equivalent to high-certainty evidence or a guaranteed cure.
2026 · Scoping review
A 2026 review of sternal infections urges caution
Bahramnezhad F, et al. Journal of cardiothoracic surgery. 07/14/2026.
Read the publicationA scoping review found sparse, heterogeneous evidence for HBOT in deep sternal wound infection and sternal osteomyelitis. Treatment was always embedded in multimodal care.
How to interpret it: The available studies could not isolate an added causal HBOT benefit. The review cautioned against routine adoption or delaying definitive surgery in this setting.
What this means for your decision
Reported infection-resolution outcomes support consideration of HBOT in selected refractory cases. The evidence is largely observational and varies by infection site, so ongoing research remains important. A coordinated consultation can assess the details of your case and identify a practical next step.
Plan with your care team
Start with your diagnosis and a coordinated plan
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Share the relevant records
Bring culture and imaging reports, surgical history, hardware information, antibiotic courses, and current orthopedic or infectious-disease recommendations.
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Agree on the purpose of treatment
Review the evidence with your treating specialist and hyperbaric clinician. Identify specific outcomes to follow, the alternatives, and the reasons HBOT may or may not be appropriate.
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Set reassessment points
If treatment is prescribed, discuss the schedule, travel, costs, safety screening, and how progress will be reviewed. A published study schedule does not determine an individual prescription.
Your consultation is an opportunity to ask about expected benefits, treatment experience, scheduling, costs, and follow-up. We review suitability with you and coordinate with your treating clinicians when appropriate.
The RX-O2 difference
A team and setting you can get to know
Medical oversight from the start
Medical Director Marvin A. Borsand, DO, FACOS, FACCS, HCC, leads clinical oversight. A licensed medical provider reviews suitability and prescribes treatment when appropriate.
Medical hyperbaric equipment
Our clinics use FDA-cleared hard-shell chambers. You breathe 100% medical oxygen through a mask or hood while the chamber is pressurized with air.
Preparation and communication
NHSA-certified hyperbaric technicians explain the visit and monitor treatment. Tell us about ear pressure, positioning, mobility, or confinement concerns before you arrive.
Before your visit
Refractory osteomyelitis FAQs
Can HBOT replace antibiotics?
No. Antibiotic decisions should be directed by your treating team, including culture information and the source of infection.
Does every bone infection need HBOT?
No. The relevant use is selective and generally concerns persistent or recurrent infection despite appropriate treatment.
What if the infection worsens during a course?
Contact your treating team promptly. Fever, rapidly worsening pain, spreading redness, or systemic illness requires urgent assessment.
Where can I discuss this research near Phoenix?
RX-O2 has clinics in Scottsdale and Glendale. Bring your records or ask your provider to send a referral so that the team can review your circumstances and explain whether an outpatient consultation is appropriate.
Local care, two Valley locations
Explore HBOT in Scottsdale or Glendale
Looking for a hyperbaric consultation near Phoenix? RX-O2 offers two locations for patients across the Valley. Call the clinic closest to you for appointment availability and help planning repeat visits.
RX-O2 Scottsdale
9035 E Pima Center Parkway #11Scottsdale, AZ 85258
An East Valley option for patients in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Fountain Hills, and nearby communities.
RX-O2 Glendale
5626 N 51st AvenueGlendale, AZ 85301
A West Valley option for patients in Glendale, Peoria, Phoenix, and nearby communities.
Take the next step toward a personalized plan
You do not have to interpret the research alone. Meet with our Scottsdale or Glendale team to discuss your goals, ask questions, and explore whether HBOT is right for you.
Sources & further reading
- Savvidou OD, et al. Orthopedics. 07/01/2018. A systematic review of chronic osteomyelitis reports.
- Hart BB, et al. Undersea & hyperbaric medicine : journal of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society, Inc. 2021 Third Quarter. Specialist guidance for refractory osteomyelitis.
- Bahramnezhad F, et al. Journal of cardiothoracic surgery. 07/14/2026. A 2026 review of sternal infections urges caution.
Browse the complete HBOT research library · Learn how HBOT works
Selected research checked October 20, 2026. Evidence continues to evolve. This educational overview supports a conversation with your treating clinician; individual results vary.
Read HBOT safety and treatment FAQs. Discuss treatment risks, medicines, implants, and relevant medical history with your clinician. Equipment clearance does not establish effectiveness for every condition.