Benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy as an Adjunct Therapy in Podiatry
Achieving Better Outcomes For Patients With Chronic Foot Wounds
Podiatric physicians, clinicians, care teams, and healthcare administration professionals at all levels strive for better outcomes for patients struggling with chronic foot wounds. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) has proven to be an excellent adjunct therapy for foot wounds of various etiologies, including diabetic foot wounds & osteomyelitis. But when should podiatric physicians and practitioners choose HBOT, and for which patients?
In this post, we’ll provide answers based on over two decades of experience working closely with doctors, practice managers, and hospitals of all sizes and missions as a trusted partner.
The Prevalence of Chronic Wounds and Diabetic Foot Wounds
Just how widespread are chronic wounds and diabetic foot wounds? According to a late 2023 report by the National Institutes of Health:
- Chronic wounds affect 10.5 million U.S. Medicare beneficiaries, up 2.3 million from the 2014 update.
- Chronic wounds impact the quality of life of nearly 2.5% of the total U.S. population.
- Given the aging population, the continued threat of diabetes and obesity worldwide, and the persistent problem of infection, chronic wounds are expected to remain a substantial clinical, social, and economic challenge.
Non-healing foot wounds are a leading cause of lower extremity and foot amputations. The NIH estimates that approximately 380,000 patients with diabetic lower extremity wounds will undergo an amputation in 2024. This represents significant suffering and a high number of amputations. At CūtisCare, we are taking decisive action to help reverse these trends.
Why HBOT Is an Effective Treatment for Non-Healing Foot Ulcers
HBOT allows patients to breathe pure medical-grade oxygen in a pressurized environment. Depending on the facility's needs, HBOT modalities can be monoplace or multiplace (treating multiple patients at a time). The result is significantly increased amounts of oxygen in the bloodstream and plasma. Increased dissolved oxygen in plasma, which normally does not carry oxygen, significantly enhances oxygen penetration in wounded tissue, including diabetic foot wounds & osteomyelitis, by up to 400%.
Managing Chronic Wounds, Including Post-Surgery Recovery, with HBOT
HBOT is always part of a multidisciplinary, patient-centric approach to treating chronic wounds. The most common causes of non-traumatic chronic foot wounds are diabetes, diabetic neuropathy, PAD, CAD, and the resulting comorbidities. These conditions typically manifest as hypoxia, hypoxemia, and hypovascularity in the wound tissue. HBOT addresses all three by providing optimum levels of oxygen to the wound.
HBOT is also a proven effective treatment for post-surgical wounds, including podiatric and vascular surgeries. In addition to increasing oxygen in oxygen-depleted tissue, it reduces unhealthy microbial growth while stimulating growth factors and angiogenesis. It’s easy to see the multi-faceted benefits of CMS-approved, non-invasive, HBOT when viewed in the context of an interdisciplinary approach to treating chronic foot ulcers.
The Efficacy and Advantages of HBOT in Podiatry
Medicine is all about diagnosis and treatment at its core. HBOT is a proven, Medicare-approved treatment for chronic foot wounds of various etiologies. Would you like to learn more about HBOT treatment solutions from a dedicated team of experts? See what our partners and their patients are saying about HBOT.
At CūtisCare, our delivery models are designed to fill a critical void in wound care, treatment, and healing. Our HBOT solutions are uniquely crafted to augment the staffing and clinical strengths of our diverse group of partners, including clinics, hospitals, and private practices.
Could Your Hospital, Practice, or Clinic Benefit from Improved Chronic Foot Wound Care Capabilities?
If you have questions or need more information, get in touch with our team of HBOT professionals today. Let’s find the right solution for your organization.