Oxygen can behave much like a drug—too little and the patient experiences hypoxia and cell death, too much and the patient experiences an overdose and toxic effects.

Used properly, hyperbaric oxygen can be used to stimulate growth of tissues.

Hyperbaric oxygen is an adjunctive therapy. Certain conditions must be met before hyperbaric oxygen may contribute to wound healing, including:

• Systemic diseases such as diabetes must be adequately treated
• Nutritional needs must be met
• Nicotine and heavy ethanol intake must be curbed
• Contraindications and risks must be considered
• Treatment for infection should be instituted
• Major blood vessel flow must be present
• Aggravating factors to the wound such as local pressure or irritation should be minimized
• Wound debridement concurrent with hyperbaric oxygen therapy is necessary
• Sufficient hyperbaric oxygen treatments must be undertaken before efficacy of treatment is assessed

Hyperbaric oxygen in the following conditions is recognized for reimbursement by third party payors:

• Preparation of a site for a skin graft
• Preservation of a compromised skin graft
• Necrotizing infection*
• Soft tissue radionecrosis.
• Osteoradionecrosis
• Chronic refractory osteomyelitis
• Crush injuries
• Acute traumatic ischemia
• Acute peripheral arterial insufficiency