London Hyperbaric

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy should be considered an important adjunctive therapy in the management of acute trauma, which is often seen in sports injuries.
Trauma is a multi disciplinary medical problem as it could affect many different systems of the body. Trauma, direct or indirect, in turn, can be classified as either minor (contusions, ligament injuries, etc) or major (fractures, spinal injuries, severe contusions, crush injuries – compartment syndrome, burns, etc).

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy increases the Oxygen delivery to the tissues

HBO reduces swelling and pain

• Prevents Hypoxia of the traumatized tissues
• Speeds up the healing of tissues, ligaments and fractured bones
• Reduces scar tissue formation and damage
• Helps return players to the game sooner

Ischemia and edema are parts of a vicious circle where Hypoxia is the major component in the changes that affect the injured tissues. edema (swelling) of the tissues will compound the

problem created by hypoxia as it increases the diffusion distance from the capillaries to the cell.

This also affects the microcirculation that in turn impede circulation in already compromised tissue. Although plasma still may go through the capillaries, it may not carry enough oxygen to sustain the life of cells. Here is where the oxygen under pressure proves its benefits (Henry’s Law).
As the partial pressure of inspired oxygen increases, the oxygen dissolved in the plasma increases proportionately. This dissolved oxygen is sufficient to oxygenate tissues without haemoglobin bound oxygen. Tissues prefer dissolved oxygen to oxygen bound to haemoglobin.
The treatment protocol used by London Hyperbaric and Wound Healing Centre is our standard LHM 14m (2.4 ATA for 90 minutes) and at this pressure there is enough oxygen dissolved in the plasma.
Traumatized tissue’s auto regulatory mechanism increases blood flow to compensate for hypoxia. In a damaged microcirculation this mechanism causes undesirable swelling.
The increases in the oxygen carrying capacity of the plasma appears to have 2 important effects.

1. In-spite of the collapse of the microcirculation the plasma carries sufficient amounts of oxygen to avoid problems associated with hypoxia.
2. Reduction of edema through vasoconstriction. Oxygen under pressure causes a

20% reduction in the blood flow. Edema is reduced at the same time as microcirculation improves. This enhances re-absorption of fluid and a further reduction of swelling.

The important part of treatment and rehabilitation of any injury is physical therapy with the associated application of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy using various protocols according to the type and origin of the injury.
In conclusion, data from many studies suggest that treatment should be instituted with in first

24-48 hours. Some studies indicate the first 12 hours are very important and the injury should be treated aggressively from 2.2 ATA to 2.8 ATA between 60-90 min.