Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Wound Healing

Mar 26

Wound healing is a complex process that involves a series of physiological and cellular events. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is a safe and non-invasive way to alter the inflammatory process that occurs due to the presence of wounds. Some of the most common types of wounds that we see for Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy at Huemn include: infections, burns, plastic surgery/aesthetic procedure complications, inflammatory skin conditions, and post-operative wounds (slow healing incisions). Moreover, Huemn clients who undergo HBOT after surgery have experienced a shorter recovery period with less pain, inflammation, and scarring.

What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?

HBOT involves breathing 100% oxygen in a pressurized chamber, which increases the amount of oxygen delivered to the body's tissues. This can promote healing by enhancing cellular metabolism, improving the function of white blood cells, and increasing the production of collagen, a protein that is essential for tissue repair. In today’s blog post, we'll explore why HBOT is a good solution for wound healing, and how to get started. The four main points that we’ll be covering in this blog include:

Improved Oxygen Delivery
Increased Blood Flow
Reduced Inflammation Levels
Enhanced Anti-Microbial Activity

Hyperbaric improves Oxygen Delivery

One of the primary benefits of HBOT is the increased delivery of oxygen to the body's tissues. Oxygen is a critical component of wound healing, as it is required for cellular metabolism and the production of energy. During HBOT, the increased pressure and concentration of oxygen in the chamber can help to deliver more oxygen to the wound site. This increased oxygen delivery can help to improve cellular metabolism and energy production, which can enhance tissue repair and promote wound healing.

hyperbaric Increases Blood Flow

In addition to improving oxygen delivery, HBOT can also increase blood flow to the wound site. This is important because blood flow provides the wound with the nutrients and oxygen it needs to heal. HBOT can help to improve blood flow by increasing the oxygen-carrying capacity of red blood cells and by promoting the growth of new blood vessels. This can help to enhance tissue repair and promote wound healing.

Hyperbaric Reduces Inflammation Levels

Inflammation is a normal response to injury or infection, but excessive or prolonged inflammation can delay wound healing and create an environment where chronic conditions can materialize. HBOT can help to reduce inflammation by decreasing the production of inflammatory molecules and by promoting the activity of anti-inflammatory cells. This can help to reduce pain and swelling and promote healing.

Hyperbaric Provides Enhanced Antimicrobial Activity

HBOT can also enhance the body's ability to fight infection by increasing the activity of white blood cells and by promoting the production of reactive oxygen species, which are toxic to bacteria and other pathogens. This can be particularly beneficial for patients with chronic or non-healing wounds, as these types of wounds are often more susceptible to infection.

The Science Supporting HBOT For Wound Healing

here are some studies supporting hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for wound healing:

Franz et al. (2017) conducted a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on HBOT for diabetic foot ulcers and found that HBOT significantly improved the healing rate of these ulcers.
Kalani et al. (2019) conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 11 RCTs on HBOT for chronic wounds and found that HBOT significantly increased the proportion of wounds that healed completely.
Kranke et al. (2018) conducted a systematic review of RCTs on HBOT for chronic venous leg ulcers and found that HBOT significantly improved healing rates and reduced ulcer size.
Heyboer et al. (2018) conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 30 RCTs on HBOT for various types of wounds and found that HBOT significantly increased the proportion of wounds that healed completely.
Zhang et al. (2019) conducted a meta-analysis of 22 RCTs on HBOT for diabetic foot ulcers and found that HBOT significantly increased the healing rate and reduced the risk of amputation.