Oxygen therapy shows impressive results in diabetic foot ulcer treatment

Oxygen therapy delivered via a haemoglobin spray has shown impressive results in reducing diabetic foot ulcers, according to the nurse who led a research study into the treatment.

Tissue viability nurse Sharon Bateman found that all 20 patients with previously non-healing diabetic foot ulcers in her study cohort reported improvements in wound surface area and better elimination of dead tissue after using the Granulox spray over four weeks. There were also reduced levels of exudate fluid coming from the wounds.

On average, wounds reduced in size by 62.3 per cent over this period. A quarter of patients reported that their wound had cleared up completely after four weeks. 

The spray is designed to improve oxygen supply to wounds with poor blood supply and accelerate healing.

Ms Bateman, who works at South Tees NHS Hospitals Foundation Trust, said: ‘Diabetic foot ulcers have a significant impact on a patient’s quality of life and place them at higher risk for lower limb amputations. The management of these patients can place a significant burden on NHS resources.

'Aside from the benefits of the trial, 75 per cent of patients were able to apply the oxygen therapy independently, making the prospect of patients managing their ulcers independently or with the help of their healthcare team a distinct reality.’

The findings are published in the British Journal of Nursing.