Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Mary Greeley’s Wound Healing Clinic has two hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy chambers, which significantly expands the clinic’s ability to do what it does best: heal wounds.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has been used for decades to treat chronic wounds. The patient lies comfortably in the chamber, which is then pressurized to allow the patient to breathe 100 percent oxygen—compared to normal room air containing only 21 percent oxygen. This oxygen-rich environment allows the lungs to absorb greater amounts of oxygen, which is delivered by the blood to the wound or injured area, promoting stronger healing.

Many people can benefit from HBO therapy, especially those living with slow-healing wounds. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy allows your blood to carry more oxygen to your organs and tissues to promote wound healing by stimulating the growth of new blood vessels, tissue, and skin. It also activates the white blood cells to fight infection and works with antibiotics to make them more effective.

HBO therapy is used along with other medical treatments for slow-healing wounds, diabetic foot ulcers, chronic bone infection, nonhealing surgical skin grafts and flaps, crush injuries, sudden loss of blood flow to an arm or leg, injury caused by radiation therapy such as pain, wounds, dental problems, rectal bleeding or blood in the urine, certain types of sudden hearing loss, sudden vision loss, and even frostbite.

A Healing Hand

Dawson Brekke came to the Mary Greeley Wound Healing Clinic in December 2022 for a frostbite injury. His ability to continue bowling on the Ballard High School team was at risk, but hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) allowed him a swift recovery.

Watch Dawson tell his story