What Researchers Did
Doctors in Iran reported the case of a 60-year-old woman with a deep, unstageable pressure ulcer that had progressed to bone infection (osteomyelitis), treated with 35 sessions of HBOT.
What They Found
After 35 HBOT sessions, the pressure ulcer showed significant healing. The combination of HBOT with wound care was considered safe and effective for this severe wound complication involving infected bone.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For Canadians who are hospitalized, in long-term care, or have limited mobility, especially those with diabetes or poor circulation, pressure ulcers complicated by bone infection are a serious and difficult-to-treat problem. This case adds to the evidence that HBOT can be a useful additional tool when standard wound care alone is not achieving healing.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified. Pressure ulcers with osteomyelitis are not a listed OHIP-covered HBOT indication in Ontario.
Study Limitations
This is a single case report with no comparison group, so it is not possible to determine whether HBOT was responsible for healing or whether the wound would have healed with standard treatment alone.