Problem wounds are those that don't respond to established medical/surgical management. Problem wounds may include diabetic foot, vascular insufficiency ulcers, non-healing traumatic wounds, and compromised amputation sites.
Impaired healing is more common in the elderly because of slower epithelialization, and in systemically or locally compromised hosts. Approximately five million Americans suffer from non-healing wounds that may become infected, gangrenous, or require amputation.
Benefits From Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment
HBOT promotes growth of new blood vessels (neovascularization). New vasculature for healing needs a supporting structure of collagen. The collagen production and incorporation process needs oxygen.
Increased oxygen tension allows greater capillary oxygen diffusion distances and increases oxygen-dependant killing of anaerobes by leukocytes.
HBOT is appropriate with many of the other adjunct therapies that help in wound healing.