EFFECTIVENESS OF ANTI-INFLAMMATORY PROPERTY OF HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY IN ACUTE WOUNDS: A MICROBIOLOGICAL, PATHOLOGICAL AND CLINICAL CORRELATION

ABSTRACT Background: Orthopaedic trauma especially open fractures are associated with increased use of hospital resources, social challenges, and financial loss. Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) is an adjunct to reduce wound related complications and thus improve outcomes. In the present study, the effectiveness of anti-inflammatory property of HBO in acute wounds were analysed by infrared thermography, microbiological analysis and inflammatory markers. The results show that the HBO therapy is effective and can act as an adjunct for wound healing. Methods: A prospective observational study including 80 patients who were divided into two groups. C-Reactive Protein (CRP) and microbiological analysis and peri wound skin temperature monitoring were done on day 0, 4 and 6 among these groups. All patients underwent appropriate surgical procedures and complications were managed as per standard treatment protocols. Results: Our study included 80 patients with acute wounds. Mean age in HBOT group was 39 and in non HBOT group was 41. Mean value of CRP and mean value temperature in HBOT group showed a descending trend in day 4 and day 6 as compared to non HBOT group but an ascending trend was noted in nonHBOT group. Microbiological analysis did not show any microbial growth in HBOT group on day 6 while 8 patient’s developed microbial growth in nonHBOT group. Conclusions: HBOT can act as an adjunct to enhance wound healing and to improve the final outcome of acute traumatic wound which is evident from this study. We suggest the use of HBOT in all indicated acute injuries to reduce the socioeconomic burden and to obtain early functional status of patient. Early wound debridement, repair and reconstruction should be done hand in hand with HBOT to achieve the goal.