In HBOT therapy, patients receive 100% oxygen at increased atmospheric pressure. This form of treatment floods the body with oxygen, which in turn oxygenates the damaged area. This helps repair damaged tissue. HBOT can also reduce edema in the area and help control infection. It also stimulates blood vessel and collagen formation and reduces free radicals in the body.

HBOT is an FDA-approved treatment for crush injuries. It is often used in conjunction with traditional remedies. In the case of crush injuries, HBOT increases the chance of a positive result after injury. For best results, the best time to start HBOT treatment is immediately after injury.

What is a crush injury?

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Two cars involved in an accident

A crush injury is when an injury or accident puts force or pressure on a part of the body. This type of injury usually occurs when a part of the body is squeezed between two heavy objects. You often see crush injuries after natural disasters, such as earthquakes. If an object, such as a bookcase, falls on top of a person, pinning them down, this can cause a crush injury. Common injuries associated with crush injuries include:

bleeding

bruises

fracture

laceration

nerve damage

secondary infection

nerve and tendon injuries

Rhabdomyolysis

compartment syndrome

When a crush injury occurs, the longer a person remains under the crushed object, the greater the chance of complications. This includes tissue, muscle, capillary and nerve damage. When an object puts pressure on the body, it disrupts blood flow, starving the area of oxygen. The longer the tissue is starved of oxygen, the greater the risk of serious injury. If the muscles are deprived of oxygen for too long, the muscle tissue starts to die and releases myoglobin into the blood. This leads to rhabdomyolysis. Myoglobin reaches the kidneys and destroys kidney cells. This can lead to kidney damage or kidney failure. Other complications of crush injuries include osteomyelitis, fracture nonunion, flap failure, and amputation. Hyperbaric oxygen (HBOT) increases the oxygen levels in the crush injury area to help cells and tissues repair and heal.

In a crush injury, care and treatment must begin before you remove the object that caused the injury. Depending on how long the area has been shattered, removing the object could lead to immediate complications. Tissue cells in the crushed area begin to die due to lack of oxygen and blood flow. When they do, they release toxins into the crushed area. So when you remove the item and blood circulation resumes, these toxic substances will flow throughout the body. If left untreated, patients may develop rhabdomyolysis, kidney failure, cardiac arrhythmias or cardiac arrest due to increased potassium levels, respiratory or liver damage.