Hyperbaric oxygen therapy heals wounds that other treatments cannot
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy heals wounds that other treatments cannot
Why some wounds fail to heal and how oxygen therapy helps
Non-healing wounds are wounds that fail to progress through the normal stages of healing within the expected timeframe, typically four to six weeks. These chronic wounds remain open and vulnerable to infection, causing ongoing pain and significantly limiting daily life. They can occur anywhere on the body, including feet, legs, chest, mouth, bladder and surgical sites.
Conditions such as diabetes, vascular disease, paralysis, aging, radiation therapy and certain medications impair the body's ability to heal by reducing blood flow and oxygen delivery to wounded tissue. Without adequate oxygen, the body cannot produce the collagen, new blood vessels and immune cells needed to close a wound. HBOT addresses this root cause by dramatically increasing oxygen concentration in wounded tissue, even in areas with severely compromised circulation. Healthcare providers refer patients to hyperbarics for wound healing more than any other condition.
Open wounds that persist beyond normal healing timeframes
Recurring infection, inflammation and tissue breakdown
Chronic pain, reduced mobility and risk of amputation
Inability to return to normal daily activities and work
How pressurized oxygen rebuilds damaged tissue and closes wounds
HBOT activates multiple wound healing mechanisms simultaneously, addressing the oxygen deficiency that prevents chronic wounds from closing.
Reduces pain, swelling and wound inflammation
Regrows healthy tissue, skin and bone
Kills bacteria and supercharges antibiotics
Grows new blood vessels to restore circulation
Mobilizes stem cells for tissue regeneration
Heals wounds faster and prevents amputation
For Providers
Clinical evidence for HBOT in chronic wound healing
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is one of the most extensively studied and well-documented applications in wound care, with decades of clinical evidence supporting its effectiveness.
Mechanisms of wound healing: HBOT supports wound healing through multiple physiological pathways. It promotes neovascularization through both angiogenesis (growth of new blood vessels from existing endothelial cells) and vasculogenesis (recruitment and differentiation of circulating stem and progenitor cells to the wound bed). HBOT is also bacteriostatic and bactericidal, improves post-ischemic tissue survival, and resolves chronic osteonecrosis in bone underlying non-healing wounds.
Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species: When tissue oxygen tensions are elevated through HBOT, increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) triggers a cascade of healing responses including improved wound growth factor synthesis, stem progenitor cell mobilization from bone marrow, enhanced neutrophil function through beta-actin S-nitrosylation, and ischemic preconditioning changes that protect vulnerable tissue.
Clinical effectiveness: Systematic reviews in the National Library of Medicine confirm that HBOT significantly improves wound healing in complex chronic wounds. Studies demonstrate improved healing rates for diabetic foot ulcers, pressure sores, radiation-induced wounds, surgical wounds and traumatic injuries. HBOT is particularly effective for patients with impaired circulation where standard wound care has failed.
Adjunctive role: Research consistently emphasizes that HBOT should be used in addition to, not as a replacement for, quality wound care. It is most effective when integrated into a comprehensive wound management approach that includes debridement, infection control, offloading and nutrition optimization. The Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society includes select problem wounds as an accepted indication for HBOT, and both the FDA and Medicare approve its use for qualifying wound conditions.
Bay Area Hyperbarics has healed thousands of patients with non-healing wounds over 25 years, including diabetic foot ulcers, chronic wounds, radiation injuries, surgical wounds, bedsores, chest lesions and wounds complicated by infection and bone involvement. Physicians refer patients to our clinic for wound healing more frequently than for any other condition.
Delayed Radiation Injury (Soft Tissue and Bony Necrosis)
The nature of delayed radiation injury, the mechanisms whereby hyperbaric oxygen is effective, clinical results, the effects of hyperbaric oxygen on cancer growth and future areas for research will be discussed.
Hyperbaric oxygen is among the most studied and frequently reported applications in the treatment of delayed radiation injuries. This application of hyperbaric oxygen to the treatment and prevention of delayed radiation injury will be the topic of this chapter. The management of delayed radiation injury, especially when bone necrosis is present, requires mult-disciplinary management. The nature of delayed radiation injury, the mechanisms whereby hyperbaric oxygen is effective, clinical results, the effects of hyperbaric oxygen on cancer growth and future areas for research will be discussed.Clinical Effectiveness of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Complex Wounds
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has a role in modern medical practice. In most cases, it is safe and severe side effects are rare. There are many indications for HBO treatment.
The results suggest that HBO has been shown to be an effective method for treating complex wounds. It significantly improved wound healing. However, HBO does not replace quality wound care. HBO should be used in addition to, but not as a replacement of aggressive wound treatment.Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for the management of chronic wounds: patient selection and perspectives.
The use of HBOT for chronic, problem wounds is best defined for DFUs, but there is a sound fundamental basis for its use for some other chronic wound types.
The Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society includes “select problem wounds” as an accepted indication for the use of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2), however, the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) has dominated any discussions of problem wounds because of the prevalence of DFUs in today’s patient population and the reimbursement available for their treatment. Other wound types (eg, calciphylaxis ulcers, sickle cell ulcers, and pyoderma gangrenosum) that have well-deserved reputations as problem wounds have been infrequently treated with HBO2. While there are sound fundamental reasons why additional oxygen may have benefits in the treatment of these wounds, the challenge is finding enough high quality evidence to support routine use of HBO2.Wound healing stories from our patients
Fortunately, this eliminated the tumor. However, it also resulted in a two-inch long non-healing chest wound where the tumor had been.
Fortunately for him, hyperbaric wound therapy healed his chest and skin, so he could return to finish high school, and move on to junior college!
Arun, 17
In addition, his foot remained numb, even where the skin had healed. The hyperbaric wound care treatments Jesus received healed the rest of the sore on his foot, but it also healed the numbness!
Jesus, 57
David, 64
Amita, 22
John, 72
Her problem was that she developed bedsores on her buttocks that would not heal for months. The sores continued to worsen and got infected so badly that she developed a bone infection (called osteomyelitis).
Her husband was worried about her infections and brought her in for HBO treatment for wounds. After treatment, her bone infection and sores healed completely. She and her husband were very pleased.
Mary Ann, 54
Your path from non-healing wound to complete recovery
We design a personalized HBOT wound care protocol based on your wound type, underlying conditions and healing goals.
Comprehensive wound assessment and treatment planning
Our medical team evaluates your wound, underlying health conditions and previous treatments to create an individualized HBOT protocol in coordination with your referring physician.
Daily HBOT sessions in our pressurized oxygen chambers
You breathe 100% oxygen in a pressurized chamber for approximately 90 minutes per session. Wound care protocols typically involve 20 to 60 sessions depending on severity.
Visible wound closure and tissue regeneration
We monitor wound healing progress throughout treatment. Most patients see visible improvement as new tissue grows, infections resolve and wound edges begin to close.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the questions patients and families ask most about hyperbaric oxygen therapy for non-healing wounds and chronic wound care.
HBOT delivers oxygen under pressure that dissolves directly into blood plasma, reaching wound tissue that normal circulation cannot supply. This increased oxygen stimulates the growth of new blood vessels, activates stem cells, enhances collagen production, kills anaerobic bacteria and strengthens the immune response. Together, these mechanisms enable the body to close wounds that have resisted all other treatments.
Start healing your wound today
Schedule a free consultation to discuss how hyperbaric oxygen therapy can heal your non-healing wound and help you return to a pain-free, active life.
