TYPES OF BODY INJURIES
HBOT CAN EFFECTIVELY TREAT
Burns
Abdominal Injuries
Amputation
Broken Bones
Crush Injury
Compartment Syndrome
Reperfusion Injury
Hemorrhage
Hypoxia
BURNS
Prompt treatment of acute thermal with hyperbaric oxygen can slow the progression
of second degree burns (blistering) into third degree burns (deep tissue damage). HBOT promotes healing
and decreases the incidence of infection, a serious and frequent complication with burns. The growth of new
capillaries and skin tissue is accelerated. Swelling, reperfusion injury, and burn shock are reduced.
Early HBOT may restore questionable tissue more quickly and prevent it from being
inadvertently removed with third degree burn tissue. This could be critical for a burned face, ears, hands
and feet where optimal tissue preservation could facilitate later reconstructive efforts. Of note is that HBOT
reduces the cost of burn treatment.
ABDOMINAL INJURIES
Abdominal organ injuries appear frequently during war operations and can be found in approximately 20% of all
injured persons. The liver is the most commonly injured solid intra-abdominal organ because of its size. In combat,
injuries tend to be of a penetrating nature rather than blunt (civilian type).
AMPUTATION
Amputation can happen as a direct result of combat injury or may be surgically required when removal of a limb will
save a patient’s life. This often happens when bleeding and tissue damage is too extensive or when the limb has been
without circulatory oxygen for too long a period of time. Promptly administered hyperbaric oxygen may provide enough
oxygen to the damaged tissues to save limbs.
BROKEN BONES
Broken bones can be difficult to heal, particularly when damage is extensive or there are other types of tissue and
organ damage. Hyperbaric oxygen speeds the healing of bone and increases the development of capillaries into damaged
tissues.
CRUSH INJURY
Crush injury occurs when part of the body becomes compressed and damaged. Often this includes a
restriction of blood flow.
COMPARTMENT SYNDROME
Muscles in the body are constrained by surrounding tissues, including bone, tendons, and ligaments.
When muscle tissue swells, it is often within the confinement of these less flexible tissues. The increased pressure
from the swelling can collapse blood vessels and block blood flow, cutting off oxygen and causing tissue death, loss of
function, and often, in severe cases, loss of limbs.
REPERFUSION INJURY
After an initial injury, fluid leaks into the tissues. With blood vessel damage, bleeding, the
accumulation of white blood cells and release of digestive enzymes, and blood vessel constriction, blood flow and the
delivery of oxygen to the tissues is restricted. The white blood cells stick to the blood vessel walls, causing tiny
blood clots.
Every wound follows this sequence. If bleeding, blood vessel clotting, and blood fluid leakage
lower blood pressure too much, the entire body becomes oxygen deficient, and the soldier goes into shock.
Reperfusion injury is a secondary injury which occurs when blood flow is restored.
Post-resuscitation tissue destruction occurs when a tourniquet is released in the field or the operating room and blood
flow is restored to re-attached limbs. The only proven drug which completely or nearly completely reverses the
reperfusion injury process is the timely use of hyperbaric oxygen.
HEMORRHAGE
Most wounds are characterized by hemorrhage, which can be either external or internal. Both types
of bleeding can result in death when there is no longer sufficient circulating blood to carry oxygen to the brain or
other vital organs. In the case of massive hemorrhage, HBOT can be used as a blood substitute until a transfusion can be provided.
HYPOXIA
A reduction in blood flow, either because the blood vessel is damaged, or the surrounding tissue
swells and restricts blood flow, causes hypoxia. Hypoxia is when the tissues do not receive enough oxygen to perform
their metabolic functions. If tissue goes too long without oxygen, it dies.
©2008 Florida Oxygen
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