Effects of topical oxygen therapy on chronic traumatic wounds and its impact on granulation tissue.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of topical oxygen therapy and its impacts on granulation tissue in patients with chronic traumatic wounds.

Method: A total of 112 patients with chronic traumatic wounds were randomly divided into the control group (n=56, receiving negative-pressure wound therapy) and the intervention group (n=56, receiving negative-pressure wound therapy plus topical oxygen therapy) using a random number table and they were treated continuously for 2 weeks. Then, the scores from the Pressure Ulcer Scale for Healing (PUSH), the coverage rate of granulation tissue, the severity of pain and Transcutaneous Oxygen Partial Pressure (TcPO) before and after treatment were compared between the two groups. Also, the bacterial culture-positive rate, the healing rate and the healing time were compared between the two groups.

Results: The PUSH scores were significantly decreased after treatment compated to those before treatment in the two groups, and those in the intervention group were lower than those in the control group (all P<0.05). The coverage rate of granulation tissue gradually increased in the two groups from day 3 to day 14 after treatment, with that in the intervention group being higher than in the control group during the same period (all P<0.05). The bacterial culture-positive rate that was detected was significantly lower after treatment than that before treatment in the intervention group, and lower in the intervention group than in the control group after treatment (all P<0.05). The VAS scores significantly decreased and TcPO increased after treatment compared to those before treatment in the two groups, with changes in the intervention group being more significant than those in the control group (all P<0.05). During the 3-month follow-up, the wound healing rate was higher and the healing time shorter in the intervention group than those in the control group (all P<0.05).

Conclusion: Negative-pressure wound therapy plus topical oxygen therapy can substantially increase the coverage rate of granulation tissue and TcPO at the traumatic site, thus facilitating the healing process and shortening the time for healing. So, the efficacy of negative-pressure wound therapy in combination with topical oxygen therapy is more effective in treating patients with chronic traumatic wounds than negative-pressure wound therapy alone.