Venous Leg Ulcers and Compression Therapy: How Adding HBOT Improves Results

Venous leg ulcers are among the most common chronic wounds, affecting an estimated 1 to 3% of the adult population at some point in their lives. These painful, slow-healing wounds develop on the lower legs when the veins fail to return blood efficiently to the heart. At Elite Wound Care Center in Palm Harbor, we combine proven compression therapy with advanced treatments including hyperbaric oxygen therapy for patients whose venous ulcers are not responding to standard care alone.

Understanding Venous Insufficiency

Healthy leg veins contain one-way valves that keep blood flowing upward toward the heart. When these valves become damaged or weakened, blood pools in the lower legs, causing increased pressure in the veins. This elevated venous pressure pushes fluid and blood components into the surrounding tissue, leading to swelling, skin changes, and eventually ulcer formation.

Venous ulcers typically develop around the ankle area, particularly on the inner side of the leg just above the ankle bone. They tend to be shallow, irregularly shaped, and surrounded by discolored, thickened skin. The ulcers produce moderate to heavy drainage and can be quite painful, especially when standing or at the end of the day.

Why Compression Therapy Is Essential

Compression therapy is the gold standard treatment for venous leg ulcers. Graduated compression bandages or stockings apply external pressure to the leg, counteracting the elevated venous pressure that caused the ulcer. This compression helps push pooled blood and fluid back toward the heart, reduces swelling in the leg, improves oxygen delivery to the wound, and supports the function of damaged venous valves.

Studies consistently show that venous ulcers heal faster with compression than without it. However, even with appropriate compression, some venous ulcers remain stubbornly resistant to healing.

When to Add HBOT

For venous ulcers that have not responded adequately to compression therapy after six to eight weeks, adding HBOT can provide the additional boost needed to restart the healing process. HBOT increases oxygen delivery to the wound bed through an alternative pathway, stimulates new capillary growth that improves local circulation, reduces chronic inflammation that may be stalling the healing process, and enhances the wound's ability to fight bacterial colonization.

What Combined Treatment Looks Like

Patients receiving combined therapy continue their compression regimen while adding HBOT sessions. This dual approach addresses venous ulcers from two directions — compression manages the underlying venous pressure while HBOT provides the cellular-level support needed for tissue repair. Regular wound evaluations track progress and allow adjustments to the treatment plan.

If you are living with a venous leg ulcer that is not healing, call Elite Wound Care Center at (727) 787-7077 to learn how our combined approach can help.