Hyperbaric oxygen treatment outcome for different indications from a single center

Abstract

Background: Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) is used as an adjunctive therapy for a variety of indications. However, there is a lack of high-quality research evaluating HBO treatment outcomes for different indications available in the current literature.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all patients who underwent HBO therapy at a single hyperbaric center from January 2010 to December 2013 using predetermined criteria to analyze successful, improved, or failed treatment outcomes for the following indications: chronic refractory osteomyelitis, diabetic foot ulcer, failed flap or skin graft, osteoradionecrosis, soft tissue radiation necrosis, and multiple coexisting indications.

Results: Among the included 181 patients treated with adjunctive HBO at our center, 81.8% had either successful or improved treatment outcomes. A successful or improved outcome was observed in 82.6% of patients treated for chronic refractory osteomyelitis (n = 23), 74.1% for diabetic foot ulcer (n = 27), 75.7% for failed flap or skin graft (n = 33), 95.7% for osteoradionecrosis (n = 23), 88.1% for soft tissue radiation necrosis (n = 42), and 72.4% for multiple coexisting indications (n = 29). Among 4 patients treated for other indications, 100% of the cases were either successful or improved.

Conclusions: This study has provided a comprehensive outcome survey of using HBO for the previously mentioned indications at our center. It supplements the literature with more evidence to support the consideration of HBO in different indications.