With the increasing prevalence of diabetes in the community, morbidity and mortality as a result of diabetic feet has been increasing. Foot complications are one of the most serious and yet preventable complications of diabetes mellitus having an economic impact to the individual and adding the burden to the already inadequate healthcare resources. Complications associated with diabetes are often expensive to treat, and commonly include foot ulceration. While most diabetic foot ulcers heal with standard treatment, when standard treatment measures fail, adjunctive therapies must be considered. Use of systemic Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) as an adjunctive treatment for chronic lower extremity diabetic ulceration is safe, reasonable and cost effective modality.
HBOT in diabetic wounds has confirmed its role in promoting oxygenation; enhance immune mechanisms, neovascular formation, fibroblast proliferation and other beneficial actions. It is now accepted as a useful adjunctive treatment in a select group of diabetic patients with severe or limb threatening wounds. HBOT has been demonstrated to be an effective treatment when combined with careful attention to underlying diseases and wound care including debridement, grafting, and control of infection. This article discusses the role of oxygen in wound healing, and place of HBOT in the modern multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of diabetic foot wounds.
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