Conditions Treated with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)

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Clinically Approved. Carefully Delivered.

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At Charlottesville Hyperbarics, we focus on evidence-based care that supports healing and recovery. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is FDA-approved for a range of medical conditions and is recognized for its ability to accelerate tissue repair, reduce inflammation, and improve oxygen delivery at the cellular level.
Each treatment protocol is overseen by our Medical Director and tailored to your specific diagnosis, health history, and healing goals.

FDA-Approved Conditions HBOT Can Treat

Below are the medical conditions currently approved by the FDA for treatment with HBOT, along with how the therapy works to support healing.
Air or Gas Embolism
How HBOT Helps: HBOT reduces the size of air bubbles trapped in blood vessels and helps the body reabsorb gases safely. It restores blood flow and prevents tissue damage.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
(with or without Cyanide Poisoning)
How HBOT Helps: Increases oxygen levels in the blood and speeds up the removal of carbon monoxide from hemoglobin, protecting the brain and heart from long-term damage.
Clostridial Myonecrosis
(Gas Gangrene)
How HBOT Helps: Inhibits the growth of anaerobic bacteria and enhances white blood cell activity, helping the body fight infection while supporting tissue healing.
Crush Injury, Compartment Syndrome, and Other
Acute Traumatic Ischemias
How HBOT Helps: Improves oxygen delivery to compromised tissue, reduces swelling, and supports cell regeneration in cases of severe tissue trauma.
Decompression Sickness
(The Bends)
How HBOT Helps: It dissolves nitrogen bubbles in the bloodstream caused by rapid decompression (common in divers), restores normal blood flow, and prevents nerve damage.
Arterial Insufficiencies
(e.g., Central Retinal Artery Occlusion)
How HBOT Helps: Improves blood oxygenation and supports the survival of oxygen-starved tissue following an arterial blockage, including sudden vision loss.
Severe Anemia (When Blood
Transfusion Is Not an Option)
How HBOT Helps: Temporarily increases plasma oxygen levels, buying time for the body to recover or until a blood transfusion becomes available.
Intracranial Abscess
(Brain Abscess)
How HBOT Helps: It enhances the effectiveness of antibiotics, helps the immune system fight infection, and supports the healing of infected brain tissue.
Necrotizing Soft
Tissue Infections
How HBOT Helps: Works as an adjunct to surgery and antibiotics to slow infection, reduce inflammation, and promote soft tissue regeneration.
Osteomyelitis
(Refractory Bone Infections)
How HBOT Helps: Increases oxygen concentration in infected bone tissue, helping resolve chronic infections and enhancing the body’s immune response.
Delayed Radiation Injury
(Soft Tissue and Bony Necrosis)
How HBOT Helps: Restores blood supply to tissues damaged by radiation therapy—often used for patients recovering from cancer treatment—to reduce pain and promote long-term healing.
Compromised Skin
Grafts and Flaps
How HBOT Helps: Improves oxygenation in skin grafts or flaps that are failing to take hold, increasing viability and reducing the risk of tissue loss.
Thermal Burns
How HBOT Helps: Reduces inflammation, increases blood flow to injured tissue, and accelerates the healing of severe burns.

Why FDA-Approved Conditions Matter

Choosing an FDA-approved indication means your treatment is based on rigorous clinical research and supported by defined medical protocols. At Charlottesville Hyperbarics, we follow these guidelines closely to ensure your safety and the best possible outcomes.

What About Other Conditions?

HBOT is also used off-label to support recovery from conditions like traumatic brain injury, post-COVID complications, chronic fatigue, Lyme disease, PTSD, and neurodegenerative disorders. While these uses are not currently FDA-approved, they are actively being studied and are often supported by clinical experience and emerging research.
To learn more about how HBOT may support your unique health needs, please get in touch with our team for a consultation.

Start Your Healing Journey at Charlottesville Hyperbarics

If you’ve been diagnosed with an FDA-approved condition or want to explore whether HBOT may benefit your situation, we’re here to help. All patients undergo a full medical evaluation before beginning treatment.
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