Wound Healing Using Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Published On 02/12/2013

Oxygen can sometimes speed the healing of problem wounds. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) uses special hyperbaric oxygen chambers where patients can undergo oxygen treatments. The Comprehensive Wound Healing Center at Methodist North has two monoplace hyperbaric chambers for use on hard to heal wounds or other conditions that can threaten life or limb. 

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy accelerates the delivery of oxygen to the body’s tissues to promote healing. In pressurized conditions more oxygen can be dissolved which increases the amount of oxygen available to the tissue. This is only temporary but can maintain tissue viability until corrective measures can be taken or a new blood supply is established. For certain wounds hyperbaric oxygen therapy can significantly improve healing outcomes.

Our Comprehensive Wound Healing Center uses hyperbaric oxygen therapy to treat the following conditions:

  • Acute carbon monoxide intoxication
  • Decompression illness
  • Gas embolism
  • Gas gangrene
  • Acute traumatic peripheral ischemia - HBO therapy is a valuable adjunctive treatment to be used in combination with accepted standard therapeutic measures when loss of function, limb or life is threatened.
  • Crush injuries and suturing of severed limbs
  • Progressive necrotizing infections, including brown recluse spider bites
  • Acute peripheral artery insufficiency
  • Preparation and preservation of compromised skin grafts
  • Chronic refractory osteomyelitis
  • Osteoradionecrosis as an adjunct to conventional treatment
  • Soft tissue radionecrosis as an adjunct to conventional treatment
  • Cyanide poisoning
  • Actinomycosis - only as an adjunct to conventional therapy when the disease process is refractory to antibiotics and surgical treatment
  • Diabetic wounds of the lower extremities in patients who meet the following three criteria:
    • Patient has type I or type II diabetes and has a lower extremity wound that is due to diabetes
    • Patient has a wound classified as a Wagner grade III or higher
    • Patient has failed an adequate course of standard wound therapy

Referrals and Consultations

If your treatment plan could be enhanced by hyperbaric oxygen therapy, please call to discuss your case and goals with one of our physicians. Once you are medically cleared for hyperbaric oxygen therapy, a treatment protocol and schedule will be established. A referring/primary care physician will remain responsible for the your general medical management. The HBO team will provide updates, from a hyperbaric perspective, as appropriate. 

Call our Comprehensive Wound Healing Centers at 901.516.5766 to consult with a HBO physician or to refer a patient.