Background: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) involves the administration of pure oxygen under high
pressure conditions. HBOT is used as an adjuvant therapy for a variety of conditions; including chronic wounds,
infections, stroke, tissue transplantation, anemia, cancer management, skin flaps & grafts, CO poisoning, air or gas
embolism, decompression thickness, necrotizing fasditis, crush injury, compartment syndrome, gas gangrene and
autism.
Objective: This prospective study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of HBOT as adjuvant treatment for
I diabetic foot ulcers in comparison to the conventional treatment.
Patients and methods: This study comprised 82 diabetic patients, aged 38 to 72 years. Patients were
randomized into two groups: Group A assigned to receive HBOT in combination with conventional wound care &
group B received conventional wound care only for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers. Outcomes were measured
every week for 111 two months during the treatment period and then at three-month intervals for one year. Ulcers
were graded using Wagner classification system. Both groups were compared as regards healing time, need of
amputation, quality of life.
Results: The demographic characteristics of the 82 patients were 28 women (34%) and 54 men (65.9%), age
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Complete healing of the index ulcer was significantly faster in hyperbaric group 50% in comparison to 29% in group
B. 2 major amputation were performed in HBOT group as compared to 3 cases in group B; all of them were Wagner
grade IV. Five minor amputations were performed in each group during the 1st year of follow up. 63% of group A were
, satisfied as regard the management of their ulcers in comparison to 41% in group B. |
