Adjunctive Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment for Grade-Four Frostbite: A Case Study and Short Discussion From Tasmania, Australia

This case study describes adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT) of grade 3-4 frostbite, along with vasodilators and rheological agents. The patient in this study presented with established frostbite 3 days after an 11-day walk in cold, snowy, wet conditions in Tasmania, Australia. Hyperbaric oxygen treatment in this case seemed to reduce the penumbra of ischemia in both feet and thus possibly reduced the level of joint amputation in the toes. If available, HBOT is an adjuvant option for the treatment of frostbite, along with the more established treatments. More studies, however, are required to establish the best protocol for the use of HBOT in this circumstance, as this is currently unknown.