Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Second-Degree Burn Healing: An Experimental Study in Rabbits

BACKGROUND: The wound healing process includes inflammation, proliferation, and remodelling phases, the main features of which are inflammation, neoangiogenesis, and epithelialization. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is one modality postulated to improve wound healing. The objective of this study was to determine whether HBOT could improve selected features of burn wound healing in an experimental rabbit model. METHODS: Researchers conducted an experimental study with 36 rabbits given second-degree burns. Subjects were separated into two groups: a control group (n = 18) and an intervention group that was given HBOT at 2.4 atmospheres absolute for 6 days (n = 18). The main outcome measure was wound healing. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the HBOT group showed more robust inflammatory cells (P = .025) and epithelialization (P = .024), but no significant difference in angiogenesis (P = .442). CONCLUSIONS: The authors conclude that HBOT may improve second-degree burn healing by increasing inflammatory cell migration and re-epithelialization.