Evaluation of the healing progress of phlegmon related to type 2 diabetes treated with the local hyperbaric oxygen therapy

Abstract

Introduction. Phlegmon is a disease which causes purulent inflammation of the subcutaneous tissue, being of unlimited character. This disease does not only affect the external coverings of the body; it may also be transmitted to the internal organs, and lead to their insufficiency. Case report. The study presents the results of the physical therapy applied to phlegmon located in the right shank and foot of a 57-year old patient with type 2 diabetes after an ineffective typical symptomatic treatment. A local hyperbaric oxygen therapy has been used in this treatment which utilizes the therapeutic effect of gases with high oxygen content close to 100%,exceeding the pressure of one atmosphere. Results. After completion of the 4-month therapy complete regression of pain symptoms was achieved assessed accordingly to the VAS scale, as well as the complete healing of wounds, reduction of the inflammatory reaction and skin congestion, thanks to which the amputation of the limb turned out not to be necessary. The thermographic assessment performed after the completion of the treatment confirmed normalization of the previously reduced temperature of tissues in the area of healed wounds. Conclusions. The obtained initial results indicate that the therapy with the use of the local hyperbaric oxygen therapy may constitute a useful adjunctive method for treatment of patients whose wounds are hard to heal, including wounds with inflammatory origin.

Comparison of the efficacy of topical hyperbaric oxygen therapy alone vs a combination of physical methods including topical hyperbaric oxygen therapy, magnetotherapy, and low‐energy light therapy in the treatment of venous leg ulcers

“…[15][16][17]44,45 So far, the therapeutic efficacy of both presented methods in the treatment of leg ulcers of various origin has been observed in some published case histories. 4,[19][20][21]46 In the present study, we confirmed for first time that the application It should be emphasized that the time required for a single procedure and the number of procedures in the therapeutic cycle were similar for both analyzed therapeutic modalities.…”

“…[37][38][39][40] In case of LASEROBARIA-S device, the regenerative effect of HBO treatment is additionally supported by the activity of variable magnetic field having physical parameters used in magnetotherapy, as well as the activity of low-energy light emitted by LEDs. 18,19 Among the mechanisms of regenerative effect of extremely low- In case of therapy with the use of LASEROBARIA-S device, the analgesic effect of HBO is additionally boosted by the activity of alternating magnetic field, with physical parameters applied in magnetotherapy, as well as by low-energy light radiation emitted by LEDs. 6 In the mechanism of analgesic activity of alternating magnetic fields having low frequency, a substantial role is, among others, that of stimulation of release of endorphins and NO being a transmitter in nerve fibers, which transmit pain stimuli, anti-inflammatory, and antioedematic activities, as well as local improvement in blood supply to tissues in the ulceration area.…”

“…In case of LASEROBARIA‐S device, the regenerative effect of HBO treatment is additionally supported by the activity of variable magnetic field having physical parameters used in magnetotherapy, as well as the activity of low‐energy light emitted by LEDs 18,19 …”

“…The first study group consisted of 36 patients treated with the use of OXYBARIA-S device (FASER S.A., Tarnowskie Góry, Poland) applied in procedures of topical hyperbaric oxygen therapy. 4,19 The second group, consisted of 29 patients, who underwent treatment with the use of multifunction device LASEROBARIA-S (INVENTMED, Świętochłowice, Poland) applied for procedures of combined physical therapy with simultaneous use of topical hyperbaric oxygen application in combination with variable magnetic field of extremely low-frequency and lowenergy light. 20,21 The criteria for inclusion were as follows; presence of venous leg In patients treated with OXYBARIA-S device, the oxygen applied was introduced to the chamber from an external cylinder, the oxygen concentration was about 95%, its pressure amounted to 1.5 mBa, the applied flow rate was about 5 L/min, whereas in patients treated with LASEROBARIA-S device the following physical factors were applied simultaneously; oxygen supplied to the chamber from an external cylinder, having the concentration of about 90%, pressure of 1.…”

“…The age range of the patients was 41 to 86 years (average 66 years), while their average BMI was 30.6 kg/m 2 . The first study group consisted of 36 patients treated with the use of OXYBARIA‐S device (FASER S.A., Tarnowskie Góry, Poland) applied in procedures of topical hyperbaric oxygen therapy 4,19 . The second group, consisted of 29 patients, who underwent treatment with the use of multifunction device LASEROBARIA‐S (INVENTMED, Świętochłowice, Poland) applied for procedures of combined physical therapy with simultaneous use of topical hyperbaric oxygen application in combination with variable magnetic field of extremely low‐frequency and low‐energy light 20,21 …”