Hyperbaric oxygen supports the flawless generation of new tissue. Specifically, it supports the proliferation of the collagen molecules which are present in muscle and the sinewy tendons and ligaments which hold our structures together.

In situations of tissue disruption by trauma or other mishaps, hyperbaric oxygen can reduce the amount of secondary destruction (ie. host mediated) that occurs as a reaction to the initial insult. This complex biochemical sequence is called “ischemia-reperfusion injury” and it can result in loss of large amounts of nearby tissue which may have been not directly insulted in the traumatic incident. Thus, the use of hyperbaric oxygen in an acute setting has permitted surgeons to utilize the cellular calming effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy to salvage limbs which would otherwise perish.

Bone formation is stimulated by hyperbaric oxygen therapy. It forms a high quality scaffold matrix very quickly and more extensively than normal. Mineralization to achieve optimal bone strength of bone subsequently proceeds according to work performed at the University of Toronto Faculty of Dentistry.

Stem cells creating repair plus hyperbaric oxygen stimulated bone growth can change the clinical outcome:  With this augmented bone repair, there now is the potential (in some cases) for primary digital amputation to be deferred or even avoided. A new initiative with the Psychiatry Department of the Faculty of Medicine at University of Toronto is utilizing advanced orthosis designs plus hyperbaric oxygen therapy to speed healing while strategically reducing the physical loading on fragile weight-bearing structures to chaperone them through the healing process.

In this way we now have a bridge from injury over the most risky postop period (whether traumatic or surgical ) to permit safe passage of fragile tissue through the perilous early healing process.  

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is indicated as an adjunct to sustained systemic antimicrobial therapy when managing stubborn bacterial infection such as chronic bone infection (osteomyelitis) because it can potentiate the action of certain antibiotics and in all humans it supercharges the natural bacterial killing function of the leukocytes (white blood cells). It does this by using oxygen as a potent fuel which allows the body to supercharge that bacterial killing function by 2 cvs 36 units of power = 18 fold power increase.

( this is technically known as "oxidative phosphorylation" using "Krebs cycle" and the "electron transport chain" )