What Researchers Did
Researchers tested whether hyperbaric oxygen therapy helps skin grafts heal better after traumatic wounds and speeds up healing at the donor site.
What They Found
In this randomized controlled trial of 64 patients, the HBOT group had higher graft uptake and faster donor site healing than the standard care group. On postoperative day 4, mean graft uptake was 92.44% in the HBOT group versus 88.12% in the control group (P = .036), and by day 7 it was 91.69% versus 83.12% (P = .026). Donor site healing took a mean of 15.16 days in the HBOT group compared with 17.97 days in the control group (P < .001). The control group also had more complications, including 2 cases of floating grafts, 4 cases of flap necrosis, and 1 death from sepsis, while the HBOT group had 1 case each of graft contracture and recipient site infection.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
The study had a modest sample size of 64 patients from a single trial, so larger studies would help confirm these results across different patient populations and wound types.