Aims/purpose: The aim of the study was to determine the healing effect of HBOT as an adjunctive treatment on Diabetic foot ulcer patients (DFU) in short duration compared to the standard wound therapy (ST). Methodology of study: The study was conducted among 6 consecutively attending patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) and with grade III or IV Wagner classification of foot ulcers were recruited in the podiatry clinic. Patients randomized to the control group (n = 3) received standard care including offloading, wound debridement, and glucose control. HBOT group patients (n = 3) received standard care and daily HBOT sessions for 90 minutes at 2.5 atmospheres absolute (ATA) for 2 weeks. Ulcer tissues were harvested on days 0, 7 and 14 to determine the histological changes between HBOT and non HBOT groups. The anthropometric and biochemical values are recorded in the baseline level. Findings: There was no statistical difference noticed between baseline characteristics of two groups. The histological examinations of the ulcer at the baseline were found to have inflammation with edema in both the group. On 7th day fibres were associated with thickened vessel, no vasculitis in the HBOT treated patients and acute ulcer with inflammatory cells was noted in the standard treatment patients. At the end of the treatment granulation tissues with proliferating capillaries were seen more in the HBOT treated patients. In ST group, acute ulcer with fibrin exudates was noted Conclusion and Implications: In conclusion, it can be stated that HBOT therapy has a positive effect in initiating the healing process of ulcer than standard treatment. We believe that HBOT is a useful adjunct in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers, and that the cost of HBOT itself will be reduced as it becomes more widely available in the clinical settings.
