Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Healing Problem Wounds

In hyperbaric oxygen therapy, the patient breathes pure oxygen while in a sealed chamber with increased atmospheric pressure. The therapy is well known for its effectiveness in treating the painful condition decompression sickness (bends) in deep-sea divers, but it has other uses as well.

Approval

• The Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society has approved hyperbaric oxygen therapy for healing many types of problem wounds.

Anaerobic Infections

• Some of the bacteria in necrotizing soft tissue infections are anaerobic (intolerant of oxygen), and hyperbaric oxygen therapy supplies additional oxygen, which can effectively decrease or eliminate these bacteria.

Neutrophil Enhancement

• Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can enhance the ability of neutrophils, which are immune system cells, to kill bacteria in problem wounds.

Radiation

• Hyperbaric oxygen heals the damaging effects of radiation exposure, including that of radiation treatment. According to the Atlantic Hyperbaric Associates of New Jersey, it is the only therapy shown in clinical trials to reverse these effects.

Other Wounds

• Many other types of problem wounds benefit from hyperbaric oxygen therapy. These include crushing injuries, burns, skin grafts, brain abscesses, compromised amputation sites, refractory bone infections and diabetic foot ulcers and other chronic non-healing wounds.