Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBO)
Chronic wounds affect more than 7 million Americans, and that number continues to rise. For patients with wounds that do not heal with conventional treatments, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBO) can be a critical option to promote healing, restore quality of life, and, in some cases, even save a limb.
HBO is particularly beneficial for people with diabetes, poor circulation, radiation injuries, or other conditions that impair the body’s natural wound-healing ability.
What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is a medical treatment in which you breathe 100% pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber. The chamber creates an environment where oxygen levels are 15-20 times higher than normal, allowing your bloodstream to deliver more oxygen to oxygen-deprived tissues.
The high oxygen levels help your body:
- Stimulate the growth of new blood vessels
- Promote the development of healthy tissue
- Fight certain types of infections
- Improve circulation and reduce swelling
- Enhance the body’s natural wound-healing process
HBO is typically recommended for patients whose wounds have not responded to medications or other standard treatments.
Who Can Benefit from HBO?
HBO therapy is often used for patients with:
- Chronic, non-healing diabetic wounds
- Radiation injuries from prior cancer treatment
- Severe, chronic wounds caused by poor circulation or arterial insufficiency
If you have a wound that isn’t healing, your doctor can evaluate whether HBO is a safe and effective treatment option for you.
How Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Works
Treatment usually occurs over several weeks at a scheduled frequency determined by your wound care team. During each session:
- You relax in a transparent, pressurized chamber.
- You breathe 100% oxygen in a controlled environment.
- Your body responds by:
- Reducing swelling
- Fighting infection
- Building new blood vessels
- Producing healthy tissue
Each session is carefully monitored to maximize healing and safety.
Your HBO Care Team
At Aspirus, patients receive customized treatment plans developed by a team of wound care experts, including:
- Certified Wound Care Nurses & Nursing Assistants
- Wound Care Physicians and Nurse Practitioners
- Dermatologists and Diabetic Educators
- Dietitians and Infectious Disease Specialists
We also collaborate with consultants as needed:
- Orthopedic Specialists
- Plastic Surgeons
- Podiatrists
- Vascular Surgeons
- Orthotists
This team-based approach ensures your care is coordinated, comprehensive, and focused on healing.
What to Expect at Your HBO Appointment
Before starting therapy, your wound specialist will perform a thorough evaluation to create your individualized treatment plan. This may include:
- MRI, CT scans, or X-rays to assess the wound
- Vascular or blood flow studies
- Blood tests, such as glucose or protein levels
- Overall health assessment to identify factors affecting wound healing
Your treatment schedule will be tailored to your wound type and healing goals, with progress monitored closely throughout therapy.
Benefits of HBO Therapy
HBO is a safe, effective, and non-invasive treatment that helps patients with chronic wounds and radiation injuries:
- Heal wounds that have not responded to other treatments
- Prevent complications, including infection and amputation
- Restore mobility and quality of life
- Support faster and more effective recovery
When to Consider HBO
You may benefit from Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy if:
- You have a chronic wound that has not healed within 30 days
- Your wound is diabetic, post-surgical, or radiation-related
- Conventional wound care therapies have failed to produce results
Early evaluation by a wound care specialist can maximize the effectiveness of HBO therapy.