What Researchers Did
Researchers ran a randomized controlled trial in 58 patients with Wagner Grade 2 or higher diabetic foot ulcers at two Malaysian tertiary hospitals, comparing conventional wound care alone versus wound care plus HBOT at 2.4 ATA for 90 minutes over 30 days.
What They Found
Wound size decreased significantly faster in the HBOT group at day 10, 20, and 30 (p < 0.001). HBOT patients were 44 times more likely to achieve at least 30% wound reduction within the study period (95% CI: 7.18 to 268.97).
What This Means for Canadian Patients
This RCT directly supports HBOT for diabetic foot ulcers -- an OHIP-covered indication in Ontario. Canadian patients with Wagner Grade 2 or higher wounds not healing with standard care have strong evidence supporting the addition of HBOT to their treatment plan.
Canadian Relevance
Diabetic foot ulcers are an OHIP-covered indication for HBOT in Ontario.
Study Limitations
The study had only a 30-day follow-up; longer-term outcomes including amputation prevention and complete healing were not reported.