Wound Healing

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a great option for people needing a wound care treatment. Hyperbaric oxygen treatments help increase circulation and build up the oxygen supply in the body. In turn, this helps improve the time it takes wounds to heal.

Some examples of wounds that see improvement through hyperbaric wound care are soft tissues injuries, including radiation injuries in the tissues, chronic refractory osteomyelitis, certain skin grafts and flaps, crush injuries, acute traumatic peripheral ischemia, and diabetic wounds in the lower extremities.

Wounds that meet specific criteria can benefit from the use of hyperbaric chamber therapy. How this works is the patient enters a pressurized chamber. During the treatment, the oxygen concentration in the air is manipulated to quickly increase. As the person breathes in more oxygen, the blood oxygen levels increase, delivering essential nutrients to the wound site for faster healing.

To put it simply, the wound is healing from the inside out.

Some of the benefits patients experience with hyperbaric oxygen therapy is focused on reducing swelling, building new blood vessels, and producing healthy tissue. This helps the body to fight infection.

What to Expect

During a hyperbaric oxygen treatment, patients will enter a chamber wearing a hospital gown. There is nothing fancy to do during the treatment, just relax and breathe. Patients can watch television or listen to music during therapy to help pass the time.

Treatments can last anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours. Doctor’s will often prescribe a certain amount depending on the wound and its severity. Also, some patients require multiple treatments.

Staff helps patients feel comfortable during their treatment. Since the patient will be in a pressurized chamber, it is common for ears to pop, but it is not too uncomfortable.

After the treatment is completed, patients may feel light-headed or tired, but that will go away as you breathe normal air again and adjust to regular atmospheric pressures.

Research on Hyperbaric Wound Care

The benefits of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in wound healing has been studied by professional laboratories and universities. One surgeon conducted a study that showed hyperbaric chamber therapy improved the healing process for patients after surgery.

Another research project by the University of Rochester showed that 10-20% of wounds will fit the criteria for benefiting from hyperbaric oxygen therapy. They tested blood levels to ensure that more oxygen was reaching the wound, which then had a more beneficial result than without it.

John’s Hopkins also conducted a study on healing wounds with hyperbaric oxygen therapy. They found that using hyperbaric wound care treatments helped wound heal faster and better. A treatment in a high pressured, oxygenated chamber also helped prevent disease and infection.

Taking the Plunge

If you have wounds that are not healing and want to see if hyperbaric oxygen therapy will work for you, talk to your doctor, or call our treatment center. We welcome questions and are happy to walk you through specific procedures.

We want to help all our clients feel comfortable in this process. Our staff recognizes that for many clients, it is a newer type of therapy they had not considered. If you have any questions or want to learn how to get started, contact us today.