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Hyperbaric oxygen therapy facilitates healing of chronic foot ulcers in patients with diabetes

Magnus Löndahl1, Per Katzman, Anders Nilsson

  • 1Institution for Clinical Sciences in Lund, Lund University, Lund, Sweden. magnus.londahl@med.lu.se

Diabetes Care
|April 30, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) significantly improved healing rates for chronic diabetic foot ulcers compared to placebo. This adjunctive treatment offers a promising solution for difficult-to-heal wounds in diabetic patients.

Area of Science:

  • Vascular Surgery
  • Diabetology
  • Wound Healing

Background:

  • Chronic diabetic foot ulcers represent a significant clinical challenge.
  • Effective management strategies are crucial to prevent complications and reduce healthcare burden.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) as an adjunctive treatment for chronic diabetic foot ulcers.
  • To compare healing outcomes between HBOT and placebo in a randomized controlled trial.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized, single-center, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial (HODFU study) was conducted.
  • Ninety-four patients with chronic diabetic foot ulcers (Wagner grade 2-4) were enrolled.
  • Participants received either HBOT or hyperbaric air (placebo) for 85 minutes daily, five days a week, for eight weeks.

Main Results:

  • Complete ulcer healing at 1-year follow-up was significantly higher in the HBOT group (52%) compared to the placebo group (29%) (P = 0.03).
  • In patients completing over 35 sessions, healing rates were 61% for HBOT versus 27% for placebo (P = 0.009).
  • Adverse events were infrequent in both groups.

Conclusions:

  • Adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is effective in facilitating the healing of chronic diabetic foot ulcers in selected patients.
  • HBOT represents a valuable therapeutic option for improving outcomes in diabetic wound care.
Abstract

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