Adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen therapy for chronic diabetic foot ulcer unresponsive to standard care: A case report

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a serious complication of diabetes mellitus and are often challenging to treat, particularly in patients who fail to respond to standard wound care. Adjunctive therapies such as hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) have shown potential in promoting wound healing in chronic cases.

A 66-year-old male with a 10-year history of type 2 diabetes mellitus presented with a chronic, non-healing DFU on the right foot. Despite oral antibiotic therapy and conventional wound management, the ulcer demonstrated progressive necrosis, persistent infection, and tissue exposure. Wound culture identified Klebsiella oxytoca. After targeted antibiotic treatment, the patient underwent 35 sessions of HBOT at 2.4 ATA for 90 min per session, five days per week, in conjunction with hydrogel dressings and structured wound care strategies.

Over the treatment course, the wound exhibited substantial clinical improvement, including reduced edema, infection control, emergence of granulation tissue, and near-complete epithelialization. No complications occurred during HBOT, and the patient tolerated the therapy well.

This case demonstrates the potential benefits of HBOT as an adjunctive therapy in chronic DFUs unresponsive to standard care. HBOT, when combined with modern wound care strategies, may accelerate healing and reduce the risk of amputation in select patient populations. Further research is warranted to refine treatment protocols and establish evidence-based criteria for patient selection.