One of the recognized uses of HBOT.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for wound healing is one of the uses the FDA has cleared for hyperbaric chambers and the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society recognizes. That recognition covers selected non-healing wounds, such as certain diabetic foot ulcers, along with problems like compromised grafts and flaps and delayed radiation injury.
The word selected matters. Not every slow wound qualifies, and HBOT is not a first step. The decision usually comes from a wound care physician after standard care has been tried and specific criteria are met.
HBOT is added to wound care, not a replacement.
In the studies, HBOT was used alongside good wound care, not instead of it. That care often includes:
- Taking pressure off the wound, such as special footwear or offloading devices.
- Cleaning and removing unhealthy tissue, called debridement.
- Finding and managing infection.
- Checking blood flow to the leg and foot, and treating blockages when needed.
- Keeping blood sugar in a healthy range with your physician.
The research is encouraging but mixed. Some trials found more ulcers closed with HBOT, while a Cochrane review found the clearest benefit in the short term, with less certainty at one year. Results vary from person to person.
How insurance-covered wound care usually works.
When insurance covers HBOT for a diabetic foot ulcer, it typically happens through a wound care program that documents specific criteria, such as the type and severity of the wound and how it responded to standard care. Those programs are often connected to a hospital or wound clinic.
If you have a wound like this, talk with your wound care physician first. Ask whether you meet the criteria and where they want HBOT done. Suntree can discuss whether its services fit your situation. Coverage depends on the plan and diagnosis, and wellness HBOT is generally self-pay. See the insurance and treatments page and call the center to discuss payment.
Some wounds need care today.
Call your physician promptly, or go to urgent care or an emergency room, if a wound shows spreading redness, warmth, swelling, a bad smell, dark or black tissue, new pain, or if you have a fever or feel unwell. People with diabetes may feel less pain in the feet, so look daily and do not wait for pain to tell you something is wrong.
Suntree is not an emergency facility and does not replace your wound care team.
What to have ready when you call.
A few details help the Suntree team understand your situation and point you in the right direction, even if the answer is that a wound care program is the better fit:
- Where the wound is, how long it has been open, and who is caring for it now.
- Any recent notes from your wound care physician, including whether blood flow was checked.
- Your current medicines and other health conditions.
- Whether you hope to use insurance, and what your plan has told you so far.
Talking with Suntree about a wound.
Every guest starts with a health history and suitability review. HBOT has risks and contraindications, including ear barotrauma, sinus congestion, a history of collapsed lung, pregnancy, some medications and claustrophobia. People with diabetes should also ask how blood sugar is watched around sessions.
Physicians can coordinate through the physician and patient referral page. Sessions take place in a two-seat hard-shell chamber rated for up to 2.0 ATA; the team confirms the pressure and protocol for your sessions. For wounds after an operation, see HBOT after surgery.