What Researchers Did
Surgeons in Turkey compared wound healing outcomes in 28 diabetic foot patients who received HBOT (2.4 ATA for 120 minutes daily) alongside skin graft surgery versus 17 patients who had graft surgery without HBOT.
What They Found
Patients in the HBOT group reached 50% wound closure in a median of 18 days, compared to 30.5 days in the control group (p < 0.05). Higher graft retention was significantly associated with faster healing (p < 0.05). Despite the HBOT group having higher HbA1c levels (worse blood sugar control), they still healed faster. No adverse effects from HBOT were reported.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Diabetic foot complications are a leading cause of non-traumatic amputation in Canada. This study shows HBOT nearly halved the time to 50% wound healing even in patients with poor blood sugar control, which is the exact high-risk group most Canadian diabetic foot patients fall into. HBOT at 2.4 ATA alongside reconstructive surgery could help more Canadian patients save their limbs.
Canadian Relevance
Diabetic foot ulcers are an OHIP-covered indication for HBOT in Ontario, and this study directly supports that coverage by demonstrating faster graft healing and improved limb salvage outcomes.
Study Limitations
This was a small retrospective cohort study without randomization; the control group was selected based on those who did not need HBOT rather than by random assignment, which may have introduced selection bias.