The efficacy of topical oxygen therapy for wound healing: A meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials and observational studies

• Published in: International wound journal 2024-07, Vol.21 (7), p.e14960-n/a
• Main Authors: Putri, Indri Lakhsmi, Alyssa, Agnesia, Aisyah, Imaniar Fitri, Permatasari, Anak Agung Istri Yulan, Pramanasari, Rachmaniar, Wungu, Citrawati Dyah Kencono
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Administration, Topical; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; chronic wound; Female; Humans; Male; medical care; Middle Aged; Observational Studies as Topic; Oxygen - administration & dosage; Oxygen - therapeutic use; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Review; topical oxygen therapy; Treatment Outcome; wound healing; Wound Healing - drug effects; Wounds and Injuries - therapy
• ISSN: 1742-4801; 1742-481X; 1742-481X
• DOI: 10.1111/iwj.14960

In preclinical studies, topical oxygen treatment (TOT) was shown to enhance wound healing by applying supplemental oxygen topically to the surface of a moist wound at normobaric conditions. The objective of this systematic review and meta‐analysis is to provide a thorough evaluation of published RCTs and observational studies that compare supplemental TOT with standard wound care. A total of 1077 studies were obtained from a variety of databases, including PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, ProQuest, Scopus, ClinicalTrials.gov, EU Clinical Trial Registers, and Preprints.org. The Jadad scale was employed to assess the reliability of RCT studies, while the Newcastle‐Ottawa Scale (NOS) was employed to assess the quality of observational studies. Seven RCT studies (n = 692) and two controlled observational studies (n = 111) were analysed. The rate of healed wounds was 25.8% in the control group and 43.25% in the adjuvant TOT group, which shows the use of TOT significantly increased the number of healed wounds (RR = 1.77; 95% CI 1.18–2.64; p = 0.005). A significant decrease in the percentage of wound area was found in the TOT group in RCT studies (mean difference = 15.64; 95% CI 5.22–26.06; p = 0.003). In observational studies, the rate of healed wounds was 37.5% in the standard care group and 80.95% in the adjuvant TOT group, which shows a significant increase in the number of healed wounds in the adjuvant TOT group (RR = 2.15; 95% CI 1.46–3.15; p