Apollo Hospitals, Chennai uses oxygen therapy to prevent foot amputation of a 58-year-old man.

In a remarkable medical breakthrough, Apollo Hospital Chennai has successfully used Topical Oxygen Therapy (TOT) to prevent the amputation of a 58-year-old man’s foot, demonstrating a 90% success rate in treating diabetic foot ulcers. This treatment not only preserved his foot but also set a precedent for handling complex medical cases in the region.

A resident of West Bengal, grappling with a severe and debilitating foot ulcer due to poor blood circulation, was on the brink of losing his foot. After consulting another multispecialty hospital in Chennai which advised amputation, he sought alternatives. This search led him to Apollo Hospital Chennai, where he met Dr. Sivakumar N, Senior Consultant, Podiatric Surgery.

Dr. Sivakumar and his team employed a two-pronged treatment strategy: Surgical Debridement and Decompression, which involved meticulously removing dead tissue and relieving pressure around the wound to prepare the site for healing. Following this, for three weeks, the patient underwent TOT, a cutting-edge treatment that delivers concentrated oxygen directly to the wound. This significantly enhanced the healing process by increasing oxygen availability, reducing bacterial growth, and stimulating new blood vessel formation.

Following the treatment, the wound’s condition improved enough to allow for a split-skin grafting procedure, ultimately achieving complete wound closure. This series of treatments not only saved the patient’s foot from amputation but also significantly improved his quality of life, allowing him to walk unaided. Dr. Sivakumar N, Senior Consultant – Podiatric Surgery, shared, “By integrating Topical Oxygen Therapy with conventional surgical interventions, we are not only treating the wound but actively restoring the patient’s quality of life. This case highlights our commitment to advancing medical technology and our dedication to patient-centered care.”

Read more about how the use of Topical Oxygen Therapy by Apollo Hospitals in Chennai prevented foot amputation.