The purpose of this study is to determine if HBOT plus standard wound care is more effective than standard wound care alone at preventing the need for major amputation (metatarsal and up) in patients with diabetes mellitus (Type 1 or 2) with moderate to sever chronic wounds of lower limbs.
People with diabetes mellitus and non-healing ulcers of the lower limb are at higher risk of amputation. Current standard care for foot ulcers includes maintaining optimal blood glucose levels, use of debridement, antibacterials, dressings, antibiotics for infection; adequate nutrition; pressure relief and amputation. There has been an increased interest in the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) as an adjunctive treatment for diabetic ulcers. HBOT is an established technology which currently is an accepted treatment of chronic diabetic ulcers in Ontario and physicians who provide this service are reimbursed under the current Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). However there are only a few facilities that can provide this service. In addition, results of published HBOT studies are inconsistent. The current study will provide quality efficacy data on the use of HBOT as an adjunctive therapy. As this study has been recommended by the Ontario Health Technology Advisory Committee (OHTAC), the results of the study will be used to make policy decisions regarding the funding and further utilization of HBOT therapy for people with diabetes mellitus with ulcers of the lower limb in the province. If the results are favorable towards HBOT in the treatment of diabetic ulcers, potential expansion and availability of this and other programs maybe be possible. A randomized placebo control trial evaluating HBOT, to the best of our knowledge has not been completed in this area and will provide much needed information to the scientific community.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
107
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) will be provided 5 days per week for 6 weeks for a total of 30 treatments on average. Subjects will be placed into the hyperbaric chamber for approximately 90 minutes of HBOT at 2.4 ATA (partial pressure of oxygen = 1,800 mmHg) when inside the chamber. Subjects will receive dressing changes as required per standard of care.
Patients will receive HBOT placebo 5 days per week for 6 weeks for a total of 30 treatments. Each patient will be placed into the hyperbaric chamber and will receive 90 minutes of room air while inside the chamber and the initial flow of air into the chamber will produce a small increase in pressure (0.3 ATA partial pressure of oxygen = 210 mmHg) which will then be released over a period of 10 minutes. Subjects will receive dressings changes as required per standard of care.
Judy Dan Wound Care Centre/University Health Network
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Freedom from having, or meeting the criteria for, a major amputation (below knee amputation, or metatarsal level) up to 12 weeks after randomization.
Time frame: up to 12 weeks after randomization
Wound healing: difference in wound measurements (i.e. depth, length, width and extent of surface area); reduction in Wagner Classification Score; proportion of wound closed at 12 weeks of any time interval prior to end point; time to healing (days)
Time frame: up to 12 weeks after randomization
Effectiveness: maintenance on therapy (discontinuation rates); and secondary prevention interventions (confounding variables that may influence primary outcome such as diabetes control)
Time frame: up to 12 weeks after Randomziation
Safety: Major morbidity (infection requiring hospitalization, renal failure); wound interventions during study (debridement, surgery); Complications related to HBOT (seizure, pulmonary syndromes, vision disturbance; and all cause mortality
Time frame: From enrollment up to 1 year after randomization
Healthcare resource utilization: wound dressing materials; healthcare provider visits; inpatient hospital admissions; complex continuing care/rehabilitation; drug therapy; mobility assistive devices
Time frame: From enrollment to study up to 1 year after randomization
Quality of life: assessed by Standard Form 36 (SF-36) domain scores; EuroQoL 5D (EQ-5D) summary scores and by the Diabetic Foot Ulcer-Short Form (DFS-SF) scores
Time frame: Baseline, end of treatment, end of follow-up, and EQ5D only at 6 and 12 months
Cost effectiveness of HBOT: calculate the incremental cost per amputation avoided and the incremental cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained
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Time frame: From Enrollment to 1 year after randomization