Case Studies - Health

This case study describes the complex and multi-disciplinary care provided for a patient referred for HBO therapy with a chronic wound to his lower leg following removal of a basal cell carcinoma and subsequent radiotherapy.

Radiation causes tissues to become hypocellular, hypovascular and hypoxic, thus drastically reducing the ability of a wound to heal. Prior to any surgical intervention to an irradiated area Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBO) should be administered in order to promote angiogenesis and to reverse the effects of radiation to tissues.

Using a multi-disciplinary approach, HBO was used as an adjunct to intensive wound management, which included the application of larval therapy, use of the vacuum assisted closure (VAC®) system and finally a split skin graft to the wound site.

The patient was a 73 year old retired teacher referred for HBO with a non-healing, painful wound on his right lower leg. The wound had failed to respond to normal medical and surgical treatments.

The patient received HBO therapy over the course of three months and went on to make a complete recovery.