Hyperbaric oxygen therapy increases bone infection cure rates to 86%
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy increases bone infection cure rates to 86%
Understanding osteomyelitis and why bone infections resist standard treatment
Osteomyelitis is an infection of the bone or bone marrow that becomes chronic and refractory when it persists beyond 4 to 6 weeks despite appropriate antibiotic therapy and surgical debridement. The infection creates an environment of reduced blood flow and oxygen deprivation within the bone, which impairs the immune system's ability to fight the infection and prevents antibiotics from reaching effective concentrations.
With surgery and antibiotics alone, the cure rate for chronic refractory osteomyelitis is approximately 50%. When HBOT is added as an adjunct therapy, cure rates rise to 85-86%. Bay Area Hyperbarics has treated bone infections for over 25 years, including infections in the face, orbit, ear, skull, vertebrae, chest, ribs, pelvis, arms, hands, fingers, legs, feet and toes. Our founder Lisa St. John used HBOT to heal her own seven-year facial bone infection, which inspired her to open the clinic.
Persistent bone pain, swelling and tenderness
Infection that resists antibiotics and surgical debridement
Fatigue, cognitive impairment and reduced daily function
Risk of bone loss, deformity and surgical complications
How pressurized oxygen eliminates bone infections and rebuilds bone
HBOT attacks bone infections from multiple angles — killing bacteria, enhancing antibiotics and stimulating the bone's own healing capacity.
Kills bacteria and makes antibiotics more effective
Supercharges bone and tissues with oxygen
Regrows new blood vessels and improves blood flow
Stimulates stem cell mobilization for bone repair
Grows new tissue, skin and collagen
Often completely heals bone infections
For Providers
Clinical evidence for HBOT in osteomyelitis treatment
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for chronic refractory osteomyelitis is one of the most well-established applications in hyperbaric medicine, supported by the FDA, AMA and Medicare.
Cure rate improvement: The cure rate for chronic refractory osteomyelitis with surgery and antibiotics alone is approximately 50%. When HBOT is added as an adjunct therapy, cure rates consistently rise to 85-86% across multiple clinical studies. This dramatic improvement reflects HBOT's ability to address the underlying oxygen deficiency that makes bone infections persist.
Oxygen delivery to bone: HBOT increases tissue oxygen concentration by 1,200%, enabling oxygen to penetrate infected bone where compromised blood supply has created a hypoxic environment. This restored oxygenation reactivates oxygen-dependent immune mechanisms including leukocyte oxidative killing and enhances the bactericidal activity of aminoglycoside antibiotics, which require oxygen to function.
Immune enhancement: HBOT enhances the body's natural immune response to infection by improving white blood cell function, increasing the production of reactive oxygen species that kill bacteria and stimulating the release of growth factors that promote tissue repair.
Bone and tissue regeneration: HBOT stimulates osteoblast activity and bone cell reproduction, promotes angiogenesis to restore blood supply to infected areas, mobilizes stem cells for tissue repair and stimulates collagen synthesis for soft tissue healing overlying the infected bone.
Antibiotic synergy: Research demonstrates that HBOT significantly enhances antibiotic effectiveness. The increased tissue oxygen improves antibiotic penetration into infected bone, and the improved blood supply delivers higher drug concentrations to the infection site.
Clinical experience: Bay Area Hyperbarics has treated bone infections for over 25 years across virtually every bone in the body. Our physician partners routinely refer patients to HBOT as an adjunct to antibiotics and surgery, and numerous private insurance companies cover the condition alongside Medicare.
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.Bone infection patients share their healing stories
Lisa, 44
Jennifer, 68
Your path from chronic bone infection to complete healing
We design a personalized HBOT protocol coordinated with your surgeon and infectious disease specialist.
Comprehensive infection and bone health assessment
Our medical team reviews your infection history, imaging, antibiotic regimen and surgical plan to design an HBOT protocol that complements your existing treatment.
Daily HBOT sessions in our pressurized chambers
You breathe 100% oxygen in a pressurized chamber for approximately 90 minutes per session. Osteomyelitis protocols typically involve 40 to 60 sessions.
Progressive infection resolution and bone regeneration
We track healing progress throughout treatment. Most patients experience progressive reduction in pain, swelling and infection markers as bone tissue regenerates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the questions patients ask most about hyperbaric oxygen therapy for osteomyelitis and bone infections.
Bone infections create a low-oxygen environment where the immune system and antibiotics cannot function effectively. HBOT floods infected bone with 1,200% more oxygen, reactivating immune killing mechanisms, enhancing antibiotic penetration and stimulating new blood vessel and bone growth. This raises the cure rate from 50% to 85-86%.
Start healing your bone infection today
Schedule a free consultation to discuss how hyperbaric oxygen therapy can heal your osteomyelitis and help you return to an active, pain-free life.
