Additional Hyperbaric Oxygen After Lower Extremity Amputation

This study evaluates the effect of additional hyperbaric oxygen therapy after lower extremity amputation. The patients will be randomized after amputation to either a treatment group receiving hyperbaric oxygen therapy, or control group.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has been used to treat hard to heal wounds for decades. Amputation, especially distal lower extremity amputations have the same problem with healing and patients often need to be re-amputated more proximally. In these patients oxygen levels are often the decisive factor. Providing additional oxygen under hyperbaric conditions will increase tissue oxygen concentration sufficient for the amputation stump to heal. This will give the patients a more distal amputation with better condition for ambulation.