Wounds in ischemic areas are highly susceptible to infection which interferes with wound healing. A common denominator of non-healing wounds is tissue hypoxia. This has been confirmed by tissue oxygen studies.
Ischemia is a common cause of non-healing wounds.
Ischemic wounds are usually hypoxic, but not all hypoxic wounds are ischemic. The rational approach to treatment of non-healing wounds by hyperbaric oxygen must include tissue oxygen tension monitoring. Oxygen tension between 30-40mmHg is required for normal cell division and wound healing. When ischemic and hypoxic wounds are caused by infection, trauma, or edema the oxygen levels in and around the wound fall below 30mmHg. When oxygen tissue tensions fall below 30mmHg fibroblast and leukocyte function are severely compromised.