What Researchers Did
Researchers investigated if adding hyperbaric oxygen therapy to a comprehensive treatment protocol could reduce major amputations in diabetic patients hospitalized for severe foot ulcers.
What They Found
In patients receiving hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), 8.6% (3 out of 35) required major amputation, compared to 33.3% (11 out of 33) in the non-treated group, a statistically significant difference (P = 0.016). HBOT also significantly increased transcutaneous oxygen tension on the foot (14.0 mmHg vs. 5.0 mmHg, P = 0.0002), and multivariate analysis confirmed its protective role against amputation.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For Canadian patients with severe, prevalently ischemic diabetic foot ulcers, this study suggests that adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen therapy could significantly lower the risk of major amputation. This offers a potential treatment option to preserve limbs and improve quality of life for those facing severe complications of diabetes.
Canadian Relevance
While the study itself was not conducted in Canada, it covers diabetic foot ulcers, which is a Health Canada-recognized indication for hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Study Limitations
A limitation of this study is its age, as medical protocols for diabetic foot ulcers may have advanced significantly since 1995.