PRP is a form of regenerative medicine that uses a patient's own blood to promote healing and can be used to treat a variety of conditions including orthopedic injuries (ie, muscle, tendon, bone, ligament, cartilage). Researchers of this study wanted to evaluate the addition of hyperbaric oxygen (HBOT) with PRP therapy to determine the outcome for fracture healing. This was an animal study that used a 2-week preconditioning HBOT protocol before standard PRP (HBOP). This 2 week HBOT protocol consisted of 10 total sessions at 3.0 ATA, administered in three, 20 minute sessions with two 5-minute air breaks (60 total minutes at pressure). Upon blood collection, researchers noted that HBOP produced significantly higher growth factors compared to PRP alone. In addition, bone repair was accelerated and repaired both quicker and stronger. Furthermore, they concluded "HBOP enhances the biological activity of PRP and accelerates bone healing in a closed femur fracture model in rats. This study highlights the regenerative potential of PRP when preconditioned with hyperbaric oxygen for use in bone fracture therapy" <view study> Read Less

Injury to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) of the knee is very common, particular in professional athletes. This can be considered a major surgery where the torn ligament is replaced with a tissue graft. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) on graft healing following ACL reconstruction. The  HBOT protocol used in this study was "2.5 ATA, 2 h daily, for 5 consecutive days, starting from the first day after surgery" This protocol showed "improved ACL graft maturation and integration, reduced tunnel widening, and enhanced the biomechanical properties of the graft." Though this was an animal study, "the results may provide important insights into the potential clinical application of HBOT as a therapeutic intervention to enhance graft healing after ACL reconstruction, paving the way for further research in this area" <view study> Read Less

Hyperbaric oxygen chambers are typically used in hospitals and wound care centers at higher pressures for treatment of burn victims. In this report, a hospital in Argentina used a multi-disciplinary approach in treating a 17 year old with an electric hand injury. The hospital used a lower pressure protocol at 1.45 ATA in combination with PRP and skin graft. This  multi-therapeutic approach showed quick and effective recovery for the young girl <view study> Read Less

Hyperbaric protocols can vary in dosages, based on both pressure and time. Higher-pressure protocols are typically used in hospitals and wound care centers for radiation induced damage. These pressure protocols range from 2.0 to 2.4 ATA. This study shows that 2.0 ATA (120 minutes) was equally as effective as 2.4 ATA (90 minutes) for treating radiation-induced cystitis <view study> Read Less

Osteonecrosis is one of the 14 medically-approved conditions for using hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Hospitals and medical centers will typically treat this condition with daily sessions at 2.4 to 2.5 ATA. These higher pressures (above 2.0 ATA) can give rise to a greater incidence of complications, including oxygen toxicity. Bearing this in mind, the standard protocol remains 2.4 ATA due to it's effectiveness. In this case report, a 36 year old female was not able to pressurize to these higher depths and instead could only get to 1.6 ATA. She continued daily sessions at 1.6 ATA and after 20 sessions, her symptoms were relived significantly. After 50 sessions, her symptoms were relived almost completely. Both CT and MRI imaging confirmed this successful intervention. This publications should give rise to more research on pressure protocols <view study> Read Less