What Researchers Did
This retrospective cohort study analyzed wound healing outcomes and quality of life in patients receiving hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for various nonhealing wounds at a single center.
What They Found
Out of 774 treatment series, 472 wounds (61.0%) healed completely and 177 (22.9%) partially healed, with a median of 39 sessions per patient. Following HBOT, median wound surface area decreased from 4.4 cm² to 0.2 cm² (P < .01), and patient quality of life improved from 60 to 75 on a 100-point scale (P < .01).
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients with nonhealing wounds might experience improved healing rates and better quality of life if hyperbaric oxygen therapy is added to their standard wound care. However, those with severe arterial disease should be carefully screened, as this was associated with negative outcomes.
Canadian Relevance
This study was conducted at a single hyperbaric center outside of Canada, with no direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
This retrospective, single-center study may have limitations regarding generalizability and potential for selection bias.