What Researchers Did
Dutch researchers reviewed outcomes for 206 patients with severe diabetic foot ulcers involving bone (University of Texas grade 3) treated with HBOT and wound care between 2013 and 2019.
What They Found
36% achieved complete wound healing and another 36% near-complete healing. The amputation rate was 13%, with 7% major. Patients who received at least 30 sessions had dramatically lower amputation odds (OR 0.08; 95% CI 0.03-0.21). Quality of life rose 7.6 points and median pain dropped from 3 to 1.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For Canadians with bone-deep diabetic foot ulcers that have resisted standard wound care, HBOT offers a meaningful chance at avoiding amputation, but at least 30 sessions appear critical. The combination of improved healing, reduced amputation risk, and less pain makes a compelling case for early HBOT referral.
Canadian Relevance
Diabetic foot ulcers are an OHIP-covered indication for HBOT in Ontario, making this finding directly applicable to Canadian patients seeking publicly funded treatment.
Study Limitations
This single-centre retrospective cohort had no randomized control group, so selection factors may have influenced which patients achieved healing.