article · PubMed
Chronic leg ulcers are a severe and recurring complication of sickle cell anaemia that often resist standard medical treatments. Current therapeutic options for these wounds remain limited. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy offers potential benefits by reducing wound inflammation, relieving tissue hypoxia, and encouraging the growth of new blood vessels. In a documented case, a 35-year-old male with sickle cell anaemia presented with a persistent leg ulcer that had failed to heal after a full year of conventional care involving antibiotics and regular dressings. The patient achieved complete wound coverage following a treatment regimen that combined hyperbaric oxygen therapy with subsequent skin grafting. This clinical outcome reinforces earlier case reports showing the effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen as an adjunct intervention, indicating the necessity for additional research into this combined treatment strategy for chronic wounds linked to sickle cell disease.
People with sickle cell anaemia frequently suffer from debilitating, long-lasting leg ulcers that do not respond to ordinary antibiotics and bandages. Demonstrating that hyperbaric oxygen therapy combined with skin grafts can fully close these stubborn wounds offers clinical teams an effective alternative strategy to improve recovery and patient care.
This work points towards a clinical protocol combining hyperbaric oxygen therapy and skin grafting for healthcare providers and specialised wound-care clinics managing sickle cell complications. Based on single-patient case evidence, the approach remains at an early, case-study stage and requires broader research before standardised adoption or commercial protocol development can occur.
AI-generated from the published abstract. Always read the original work before citing.
Introduction: A chronic leg ulcer is a serious complication of sickle cell anemia. The ulcers are treatment- resistant, recur frequently, and are associated with more severe disease. Treatment options for chronic leg ulcers in patients with sickle cell disease are limited. Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO₂) therapy is a promising therapy for the management of sickle cell chronic leg ulcers as it relieves hypoxia, promotes angiogenesis, and reduces wound inflammation. Case: A 35-year-old male with sickle cell anemia with a chronic leg ulcer for one year, despite regular wound dressing and antibiotics, was then successfully managed through HBO₂ therapy followed by skin grafting. Conclusion: HBO₂ therapy was effective in this case and has also shown effectiveness as an adjunct therapy in the management of sickle cell-related chronic leg ulcers in other case reports. This supports the need for further research in this area.
This page summarises published work. The authoritative version sits with the publisher.
Is something wrong with this record? Report it or request removal.
Discussion
Have you built on this work, tried to replicate it, or seen it applied in practice? Share what you know. Verified researchers and MARATTO™ domain experts can open a discussion, and any member can reply. Contributions are reviewed before they appear.
No discussion yet. Open the first thread.
New to MARATTO™? Create a free account.
