Date of Award

2025

Document Type

Capstone

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Committee Chair

Trey Boyd

Abstract

Introduction: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a serious complication of diabetes, associated with high morbidity, recurrence, and amputation, driving up healthcare costs. While standard care includes topical treatments and debridement, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has emerged as a promising adjunct. This study evaluates HBOT’s efficacy in enhancing DFU healing based on current clinical evidence.

Methods: A PubMed search using the terms ((Hyperbaric oxygenation*) AND (Diabetic foot*)) AND ("Wound Healing") returned 226 results. After filtering for recent articles (2019-2024), nine were reviewed, with five selected for analysis.

Results: The studies reviewed demonstrated significant improvements in wound healing outcomes with the use of HBOT. One study conducted a multicenter, randomized control trial to compare the effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) as an adjunct to conventional wound care in treating chronic diabetic foot ulcers. Meta-analyses by two other studies confirmed that HBOT reduced healing time, increased healing rates, and decreased major amputation risks. However, a couple studies also noted increased adverse events associated with HBOT. Despite these adverse events, the overall benefits in wound healing and reduction in major amputation rates were substantial.

Discussion: Evidence supports HBOT as an effective adjunct for DFUs, particularly in severe cases. However, increased adverse events highlight the need for careful risk-benefit consideration. Future research should aim to refine HBOT protocols, target ideal candidates, and reduce risks to maximize its clinical effectiveness in DFU management.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License

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