Tuesday, June 23, 2009

HBOT Cost-Effective For Diabetic Foot Ulcers

Because diabetes impedes circulation, it impedes the normal healing process. That's why chronic wounds, especially foot ulcers, so often threaten life and limb in patients with diabetes. We spend billions every year to reduce amputations and increase quality of life.

A review article published June 1 in Podiatry Today cites an impressive body of evidence that HBOT is a cost-effective treatment for diabetic foot ulcers. In fact, the authors observe:

Data confirm that many wounds remain hypoxic even after revascularization. Healing will not occur unless one corrects the hypoxia. Among all modalities tested over the past 10 years, the currently available research has demonstrated that only HBOT corrects tissue hypoxia.

Italics ours. Patient selection (a key to success) and treatment dosages may someday be guided by transcutaneous oxygen tension (TcPO2) or other in-chamber measurements.

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