What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 15 studies, including 9 randomized controlled trials, to determine whether adding HBOT to negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) improves outcomes in chronic, hard-to-heal wounds.
What They Found
Combining HBOT with NPWT significantly improved wound healing rate (OR = 6.77; p < 0.0001), reduced bacterial contamination (OR = 0.16; p = 0.0037), shortened healing time by nearly 4 days on average, reduced wound area, and cut hospitalization time by about 3 days. Hospital costs were also lower in the combination group. Pain scores were not significantly different between groups.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For Canadians with chronic wounds being treated with wound vacs (NPWT), adding HBOT may significantly speed healing, reduce infection risk, and shorten hospital stays. This could be especially relevant for diabetic foot ulcer patients or those with post-surgical wounds that are failing to heal.
Canadian Relevance
Diabetic foot ulcers are an OHIP-covered indication for HBOT in Ontario, and this meta-analysis supports using HBOT in combination with NPWT for this condition.
Study Limitations
Six of the 15 studies were retrospective, introducing potential selection bias, and the authors urge caution in interpreting the results given study quality limitations.