Effect of Topical Oxygen Therapy on Chronic Wounds

Over the past three decades, there has been a growing interest in the use of oxygen therapy to promote wound healing. Although the most commonly recognized oxygen therapy for the treatment of chronic wounds is hyperbaric oxygen therapy, topical oxygen therapy has a greater level of evidence supporting its use in chronic wound care. Still, it is imperative that these two treatment modalities be recognized not merely as competitors, but as distinct therapeutic entities. Through personal experience and a thorough literature review, we investigated the use of topical oxygen therapy in the management of chronic wounds. The benefits of using topical oxygen therapy have been demonstrated in patients with diabetic foot ulcers, ischemic ulcers, post-revascularization ulcers, and pressure ulcers. There are several topical oxygen devices currently on the market that are versatile, relatively low-risk, and generally well-tolerated by patients. While these devices have been used in the treatment of chronic wounds at different locations and of different etiologies, other uses of these devices are still being investigated. Topical oxygen therapy is yet another tool in our arsenal to be used in treating difficult to heal chronic wounds and could potentially be used more readily.