HBOT for Wound Healing in Miami
Medical-grade hyperbaric oxygen therapy for chronic wounds, diabetic ulcers, and non-healing injuries at TrufaMED in Surfside, FL. Clinical-grade chamber, physician-supervised, Joint Commission accredited.
Book HBOT session → | (305) 537-6396
How Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Heals Chronic Wounds
Chronic wounds — wounds that fail to progress through the normal stages of healing within an expected timeframe — affect millions of Americans and represent one of the most challenging problems in modern medicine. Diabetic foot ulcers, venous stasis ulcers, pressure injuries, radiation tissue damage, and surgical wounds that refuse to close can persist for months or years, causing pain, limiting mobility, increasing infection risk, and dramatically reducing quality of life.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is one of the most evidence-based treatments for chronic and non-healing wounds. It is FDA-approved for multiple wound-healing indications and is endorsed by major medical organizations including the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS). At TrufaMED’s HBOT clinic in Surfside, FL, patients with chronic wounds receive treatment in a clinical-grade hyperbaric chamber under the supervision of Dr. Uri Gedalia, MD, FACS, who brings extensive wound care and surgical expertise.
Why Wounds Fail to Heal — and How HBOT Breaks the Cycle
Normal wound healing requires adequate oxygen delivery to the wound bed. Oxygen is the fuel that powers every phase of healing: immune cells need oxygen to kill bacteria, fibroblasts need oxygen to produce collagen, and endothelial cells need oxygen to form new blood vessels. When a wound becomes chronic, it is almost always because the local oxygen supply is insufficient to support these processes.
Chronic wounds typically occur in tissue that has compromised circulation due to diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, venous insufficiency, radiation damage, or pressure. HBOT overcomes this oxygen deficit by dramatically increasing plasma oxygen levels — 10 to 15 times above normal — allowing oxygen to reach tissues that compromised blood vessels can no longer adequately supply. This breaks the cycle of failed healing through several mechanisms:
- Neovascularization: HBOT stimulates the growth of new blood vessels into the wound bed, permanently restoring blood flow and oxygen supply to the area. This is perhaps the most important long-term benefit of HBOT for chronic wounds
- Fibroblast activation: Collagen production by fibroblasts is directly dependent on oxygen availability. At normal wound oxygen levels, collagen synthesis may be inadequate. HBOT provides the oxygen substrate needed for robust collagen deposition and wound contraction
- Bacterial killing: Neutrophils (white blood cells) require oxygen to generate the reactive oxygen species that destroy bacteria. In hypoxic wound tissue, neutrophil killing function is impaired. HBOT restores the oxidative burst capacity of neutrophils and also has direct bactericidal and bacteriostatic effects
- Antibiotic synergy: Certain antibiotics, particularly aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones, and sulfonamides, require oxygen for optimal activity. HBOT enhances antibiotic efficacy in infected wounds
- Edema reduction: Chronic wounds often exist in edematous tissue. HBOT reduces edema through hyperoxic vasoconstriction while paradoxically maintaining or increasing tissue oxygen levels
- Growth factor stimulation: HBOT upregulates vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), and other molecules critical for wound repair
Wound Types Treated with HBOT at TrufaMED
Diabetic Foot Ulcers
Diabetic foot ulcers are among the most common and most dangerous chronic wounds. Diabetes damages small blood vessels and nerves, creating a perfect storm of poor circulation, reduced sensation, and impaired immune function. HBOT is FDA-approved for diabetic foot ulcers that have not responded to standard wound care for at least 30 days. Studies show HBOT significantly increases complete healing rates and reduces the risk of major amputation in diabetic patients.
Venous Stasis Ulcers
Venous insufficiency in the lower legs causes blood to pool, creating chronic inflammation and tissue breakdown. These ulcers are often large, painful, and prone to recurrence. HBOT reduces inflammation, promotes tissue repair, and supports wound closure when compression therapy and standard wound care have been insufficient.
Radiation Tissue Damage
Patients who have undergone radiation therapy for cancer may develop delayed radiation injuries months or years after treatment. Radiation damages blood vessels progressively, creating tissue that is hypoxic, fibrotic, and prone to breakdown. HBOT is FDA-approved for radiation tissue damage, including osteoradionecrosis of the jaw, radiation cystitis, radiation proctitis, and soft tissue radionecrosis. It promotes neovascularization in irradiated tissue, restoring the blood supply needed for healing.
Surgical Wound Complications
Surgical wounds that develop dehiscence (reopening), infection, or delayed healing can benefit from HBOT. Compromised surgical flaps and skin grafts that show signs of ischemia respond well to hyperbaric oxygen, which can salvage tissue that would otherwise be lost.
Crush Injuries and Traumatic Wounds
Severe crush injuries damage tissue at the cellular level, creating widespread edema and ischemia. HBOT is FDA-approved for crush injuries and helps preserve compromised tissue, reduce compartment pressure, and prevent secondary ischemic damage.
HBOT Wound Healing Protocol at TrufaMED
Wound healing HBOT protocols at TrufaMED are tailored to the specific wound type and patient needs. A typical protocol involves 20 to 40 sessions at pressures between 1.5 and 2.0 ATA, with each session lasting 60 to 90 minutes. Sessions are scheduled 3 to 5 times per week for optimal results.
Your treatment begins with a comprehensive wound assessment by your TrufaMED physician, including wound measurements, photography for progress tracking, and evaluation of vascular status. HBOT is coordinated with standard wound care, including debridement, dressings, offloading devices, and infection management as needed. Sessions start at $150.
Why Choose TrufaMED for Wound Healing HBOT?
- Physician wound care expertise: Dr. Uri Gedalia, MD, FACS, is a board-certified surgeon with extensive wound care experience, also serving as Regional CMO for Advantage Surgical and Wound Care
- Clinical-grade chamber at therapeutic pressures (1.5 – 2.0 ATA)
- Joint Commission accredited — meeting hospital-grade quality standards
- On-site diagnostics including X-ray, labs, and vascular assessment
- Integrated care model combining HBOT with wound care treatment, IV therapy for nutritional support, and ongoing physician follow-up
- Open 7 days, 8 AM – 10 PM for flexible scheduling
Frequently Asked Questions
Is HBOT FDA-approved for wound healing?
Yes. HBOT is FDA-approved and CMS-covered for multiple wound healing indications, including diabetic foot ulcers, chronic refractory osteomyelitis, compromised skin grafts and flaps, radiation tissue damage, and crush injuries. Your TrufaMED physician will determine whether your wound qualifies for insurance-covered HBOT.
How many HBOT sessions are needed for wound healing?
Most wound healing protocols involve 20 to 40 sessions, scheduled 3 to 5 times per week. The exact number depends on wound type, size, duration, and underlying health conditions. Your physician will monitor healing progress and adjust the protocol as needed.
Does insurance cover HBOT for wound healing?
Medicare and many private insurance plans cover HBOT for FDA-approved wound healing indications. Coverage typically requires documentation that the wound has not responded to standard care for at least 30 days. Our team will help you navigate insurance authorization. Self-pay sessions start at $150.
Can HBOT be combined with other wound treatments?
Yes, and it should be. HBOT is most effective as part of a comprehensive wound care plan that includes proper debridement, appropriate dressings, infection management, offloading (for foot ulcers), compression (for venous ulcers), and nutritional optimization. At TrufaMED, your physician coordinates all aspects of your wound care.
Is HBOT painful?
No. HBOT is non-invasive and painless. The most common sensation is a feeling of pressure in the ears during pressurization, similar to what you experience during airplane descent. Our team will teach you equalization techniques before your first session. Most patients find the sessions relaxing.
Book your HBOT session →
← Back to HBOT main page
TrufaMED Urgent Care & Concierge Medicine | 9445 Harding Ave, Surfside, FL 33154 | (305) 537-6396
