A previous nonblinded study has suggested beneficial effects from hyperbaric
oxygen treatment of superficial partial-thickness radiation
burns in human volunteers. This protocol was designed to either confirm or challenge these previous findings in a randomized, blinded format. Twelve healthy, nonsmoking volunteers (7 males, 5 females) participated. All were screened for
contraindications to
hyperbaric oxygen therapy (acute
sinusitis,
otitis media,
pneumonia, pregnancy, active
cancer,
pneumothorax) and given a single test hyperbaric exposure. A standardized
wound model was employed for the painless creation of a volar forearm lesion on volunteers by applying a suction device to form a
blister, excising its epidermal roof, and irradiating the exposed dermis with ultraviolet light. Subjects were randomized into either a hyperbaric
oxygen group (100%
oxygen at 2.4 ATA, n = 6) or the sea-level air-breathing equivalent control group (8.75%
oxygen at 2.4 ATA, n = 6). Both groups then underwent standard hyperbaric
therapy. The subjects, the hyperbaric
oxygen chamber operators, and the monitoring clinicians were all blinded to the
oxygen concentration administered. Each subject received two dives per day over a 3-day period. The
wounds were studied noninvasively prior to treatment and once per day over 6 days for size,
hyperemia, and exudation, with epithelialization as the endpoint. The averages for each measurement of the hyperbaric
oxygen group versus the control group were computed by means of a one-tail t test; p was considered significant at less than 0.05. Daily
wound size,
hyperemia, and exudation measurements were significantly different on day 2. The hyperbaric
oxygen group showed a 42 percent reduction in
wound hyperemia, a 35 percent reduction in the size of the lesion, and a 22 percent reduction in
wound exudation (p values of 0.05, 0.03, and 0.04, respectively). No significant difference was noted for epithelialization. Observed differences in
wound size,
hyperemia, and exudation were attributable to
hyperbaric oxygen therapy. This study further supports earlier conclusions that
hyperbaric oxygen therapy is beneficial in a superficial dermal
wound.