What Researchers Did
Swiss clinicians published a narrative review summarizing the physical and biological mechanisms of HBOT and its evidence base for treating chronic wounds, with particular focus on diabetic foot syndrome.
What They Found
HBOT corrects tissue hypoxia, stimulates new blood vessel growth (angiogenesis), promotes collagen production, reduces swelling, and has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects. Clinical evidence supports positive outcomes for diabetic foot syndrome specifically, though evidence across all chronic wound types is heterogeneous. Key barriers to access include the length of treatment protocols and patients' distance from a hyperbaric chamber.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For Canadians with chronic wounds that have not healed with standard care, especially diabetic foot ulcers, HBOT is a biologically well-justified option. The geographic access barrier highlighted in this review is especially relevant in Canada, where hyperbaric facilities are concentrated in larger urban centers and rural patients may face significant travel.
Canadian Relevance
Diabetic foot ulcers are an OHIP-covered indication for HBOT in Ontario. Rural and remote Canadians may face significant travel barriers to accessing covered HBOT treatment.
Study Limitations
This is a narrative review rather than a systematic analysis, and its conclusions are limited by the acknowledged heterogeneity of existing wound-healing studies.