Hyperbaric Chamber Therapy for Effective Chronic Wound Care

Chronic wounds are damaged tissue that is slow to heal or reappears. It may be an incision wound from surgery or a lesion caused by an illness. Those with chronic wounds suffer from pain and continuously struggle to heal, affecting their quality of life. Our medical team at Medici Spine & Pain offers advanced treatments for chronic health conditions, including chronic wounds. One effective option we utilize for chronic wound care is oxygen therapy using our hyperbaric chamber.

What is Hyperbaric Chamber Oxygen Therapy?

Most people have heard of hyperbaric chambers that are used for scuba divers to treat decompression sickness. These chambers are filled with 100% pure oxygen and are pressurized up to three times that of air at sea level. The pressure and available oxygen in the hyperbaric chamber forces oxygen into the patient’s blood and tissues, which can be beneficial for many health conditions, including chronic wound care. Therapy sessions inside the chamber can last up to two hours, depending on the patient and their condition.

How Does Oxygen Therapy Improve Chronic Wound Healing?

Many chronic wounds occur due to a circulatory problem. Diabetes and other diseases that are linked to poor circulation can lead to slow wound healing or reoccurring wounds. Hypoxia in the wound tissue (lack of oxygen) is a common characteristic of chronic wounds and can be a factor in the healing process. The lack of oxygen can be due to poor circulation from a disease or direct damage to the blood vessels at the point of injury. Without sufficient oxygen, the damaged tissue cannot heal correctly and may even die.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, or HBOT, delivers the needed oxygen to the blood. Due to the pressurized level inside the chamber, oxygen can be absorbed by the tissues. The high levels of oxygen can reach tissue that has been starved of oxygen, giving it the ability to repair. HBOT accelerates healing for wounds by:

• Reducing swelling caused by damaged blood vessels
• Infusing oxygen into tissues with poor circulation
• Improving the body’s immune system for fighting off infection
• Increasing new blood vessel formation to the wound

Giving the wound tissue the oxygen it needs to repair and fight infection is vital for wound healing. HBOT is an effective option for those with chronic wounds that are slow to heal, preventing tissue deterioration and helping to minimize pain for the patient.

If you suffer from chronic wounds that reoccur or refuse to heal completely, contact us at Medici Spine & Pain. We offer a multidisciplinary approach to wound care and rehabilitation, including the use of hyperbaric chamber oxygen therapy.