FDA-Approved Indication
Chronic Refractory Osteomyelitis
Bone infections that keep coming back after antibiotics and surgery are an FDA-approved indication for hyperbaric oxygen therapy, used alongside surgical debridement and IV antibiotics to clear infection from poorly oxygenated bone.
- FDA-Approved Indications
- Hard-Shell Medical-Grade Chambers
- Board-Certified Physicians
- Medicare & Major Insurers Accepted
How HBOT helps
Chronic Refractory Osteomyelitis & hyperbaric oxygen
Medically reviewed by Dr. Manoj Sadhnani
Board-Certified Podiatric Physician & Surgeon · Last reviewed June 2026
Osteomyelitis becomes "refractory" when infection persists in bone that no longer has the blood supply to deliver antibiotics or immune cells where they're needed. Inside the hyperbaric chamber, you breathe 100% oxygen at increased atmospheric pressure, raising oxygen levels in the infected bone high enough to restore the function of infection-fighting white cells, boost the killing power of certain antibiotics, and stimulate new blood vessel growth into the dead and devitalized tissue that harbors the infection.
When osteomyelitis becomes refractory
Most bone infections resolve with surgery and a course of antibiotics. It is called chronic refractory osteomyelitis when the infection returns or fails to clear despite appropriate surgical debridement and antibiotic therapy. At that point the limiting factor is often oxygen — the infected bone is too poorly perfused for treatment to reach it. HBOT is added as an adjunct, never as a replacement for surgery and antibiotics.
- Infection that recurs after debridement and antibiotics
- Compromised, poorly vascularized, or previously irradiated bone
- Diabetic and post-traumatic bone infections of the foot and leg
- Hardware-associated infection cleared surgically but slow to heal
How we coordinate your care
HBOT for osteomyelitis only works as part of a team plan. Before starting, we coordinate with your orthopedic or podiatric surgeon and infectious-disease physician so that surgical debridement, culture-directed IV antibiotics, and hyperbaric oxygen are all working together. We handle scheduling so your chamber sessions line up with the rest of your treatment.
Standard protocol
A typical course for refractory osteomyelitis runs 20–40 sessions, scheduled five days a week, with each session about 90 minutes at treatment pressure. Your physician reassesses with your surgical and ID team partway through to confirm the infection is responding before completing the full course.
Why patients with refractory osteomyelitis choose HBOTQ
- Restores oxygen levels that infection-fighting white cells need to work
- Enhances the effectiveness of several antibiotics in low-oxygen bone
- Stimulates new blood vessel growth into devitalized bone
- Supports limb salvage in diabetic and post-traumatic bone infections
- FDA-approved indication; typically covered when medically necessary
What to expect
From first call to last treatment
Most patients say the hardest part is picking up the phone. Here’s how the rest looks once you do.
Book a free consultation
Tell us about your condition. Our team responds quickly, answers your questions, and schedules an in-person evaluation with our medical team.
Meet your physician
Your physician reviews your medical history, examines you, and discusses whether HBOT is the right fit. If it is, we coordinate with your other doctors and handle insurance pre-authorization.
Treatment in the chamber
You'll arrive, change into cotton scrubs, and settle into one of our hard-shell hyperbaric chambers. Sessions are about 90 minutes — most patients read, watch a movie, or nap.
Track progress, adjust the plan
We measure progress throughout your course of treatment. Your physician reassesses regularly to make sure the plan is still right, and we communicate clearly with you the whole way through.
Patient Stories
People healing in Queens
“After a year of failed wound treatments, my foot finally closed after a few weeks at HBOTQ. The team explained every step and I never felt rushed.”
“I lost most of my hearing in one ear overnight. My ENT sent me to HBOTQ within 48 hours and I got a meaningful amount back. I'm grateful every day.”
“Radiation from my throat cancer treatment left me unable to have dental work done. The HBOTQ protocol made my extractions possible without further damage.”
“The chamber is bigger and more comfortable than I expected. I bring a book, the team checks in throughout, and the time flies by.”
“After months of post-COVID fatigue, I'm finally back to working out. HBOTQ was honest about expectations, which I appreciated.”
FAQ
Refractory Osteomyelitis — common questions
- Course length depends on your condition. Sudden hearing loss is typically 10–20 sessions. Most wound and radiation injury protocols run 20–40 sessions. Off-label protocols are often 30–40 sessions. Your physician will lay out an exact plan after evaluating you and will reassess regularly.
Related conditions
Diabetic Lower-Extremity Wounds
FDA-ApprovedDiabetic foot ulcers that haven't responded to standard care for 30+ days are an FDA-approved indication for hyperbaric oxygen therapy and a focus of our wound program.
Learn more
Non-Healing Wounds
FDA-ApprovedWounds that haven't closed after 30 days of standard care often respond to hyperbaric oxygen therapy when oxygen delivery to the tissue is the missing factor.
Learn more
Ready to find out if HBOT can help?
Book a free consultation with our medical team. We'll review your situation honestly and let you know whether hyperbaric oxygen therapy is the right fit.
- Free & no obligation
- Medicare & major insurers accepted
- Honest answers from our physicians