Results of treating patients with cellulitis by hyperbaric oxygen: a case-control study

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Infectious Diseases
• Hyperbaric Medicine

Background:

• Cellulitis is an acute bacterial skin infection characterized by swelling, redness, pain, and potential tissue necrosis.
• Hyperbaric Oxygen (HBO) therapy offers a non-pharmacological treatment option for cellulitis, known for pain relief, edema reduction, and wound healing acceleration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of Hyperbaric Oxygen (HBO) therapy in treating patients diagnosed with cellulitis.
• To compare outcomes between cellulitis patients treated with HBO combined with antibiotics and those treated with antibiotics alone.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study involving 89 cellulitis patients treated between January 2022 and December 2023.
• The study group (n=48) received HBO, intravenous antibiotics, and wound care.
• The reference group (n=41) received intravenous antibiotics and wound care without HBO.

Main Results:

• The HBO group experienced significantly better pain relief (lower VAS scores) compared to the reference group.
• Edema subsided faster, and cellulitis area circumference reduced more effectively in the HBO group.
• Average treatment duration was shorter in the HBO group (8.33 days) versus the reference group (13.17 days).

Conclusions:

• Hyperbaric Oxygen (HBO) is an effective treatment modality for cellulitis.
• HBO therapy demonstrates anti-inflammatory effects, reduces edema, alleviates pain, and shortens treatment time for cellulitis.
• The findings support the integration of HBO into cellulitis treatment protocols for improved patient outcomes.