Conditions Treated with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (2026)
Conditions Treated with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
HBOT is FDA-cleared for 14 specific medical conditions. For each one, the evidence has met regulatory standards for safety and effectiveness. Other uses exist, but they’re off-label. We label everything clearly so you know where you stand.
Not sure what HBOT is? Start with What Is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?
FDA-Approved Indications
These 14 conditions have met FDA standards for safety and effectiveness. Medicare and most commercial insurers cover HBOT for these indications when properly documented.
- Diabetic Foot Ulcers and Wound Healing:HBOT improves healing in diabetic wounds that haven’t responded to standard care.
- Carbon Monoxide Poisoning:HBOT is the primary treatment for severe CO poisoning.
- Decompression Sickness:The standard treatment for divers who surface too quickly.
- Non-Healing Wounds:Chronic wounds that fail standard wound care may respond to HBOT.
- Radiation Injury:Treats soft tissue and bone damage caused by radiation therapy.
- Thermal Burns:Used alongside standard burn care to improve outcomes.
- Crush Injuries:Helps preserve tissue and limb function after severe crush trauma.
- Gas Gangrene:Adjunct to surgery and antibiotics for clostridial infections.
- Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections:Supports treatment of aggressive soft tissue infections.
- Osteomyelitis:Chronic bone infections resistant to antibiotics may respond to HBOT.
- Skin Grafts and Flaps:Improves graft and flap survival in compromised tissue.
- Air or Gas Embolism:Emergency treatment for gas bubbles in the bloodstream.
- Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss:May improve hearing recovery when started promptly.
- Central Retinal Artery Occlusion:Time-sensitive treatment to restore blood flow to the retina.
Investigational Uses (Not FDA-Approved)
The following uses are being studied but are not FDA-approved. Evidence is preliminary. These are off-label uses. Insurance won’t cover them, and you’ll pay out of pocket.
We’ll be publishing individual guides on each of these as the research matures. For now, treat any claims about these uses with healthy skepticism.
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and concussion
- Stroke recovery
- Long COVID
- Autism spectrum disorder
- Fibromyalgia
- Anti-aging and longevity
- Athletic recovery
- Lyme disease
If a clinic promotes HBOT heavily for these conditions without acknowledging the lack of FDA approval, ask questions. A good provider will be upfront about what the evidence does and doesn’t show.
How to Find a Provider
Not all HBOT facilities are the same. Hospital-based wound care centers are the most common setting for FDA-approved treatments. Standalone clinics vary widely in credentials and equipment.
Browse our state-by-state directory at Find a Provider Near You. You can also search the official UHMS provider directory at uhms.org.
Medical Disclaimer: This page is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before pursuing any medical treatment.
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Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Burns
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Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
HBOT is the primary treatment for severe carbon monoxide poisoning. Learn when it's indicated, how it works, and why timing matters for treatment.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Cerebral Palsy: Mixed Evidence
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Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Crohn's Disease and IBD
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Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Crush Injuries
HBOT is an FDA-approved treatment for crush injuries. Learn how it reduces reperfusion damage, limits swelling, and helps preserve injured tissue.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Decompression Sickness
Decompression sickness (the bends) is an FDA-approved indication for HBOT. Learn how it works, when to seek treatment, and what the research shows.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Diabetic Wounds
HBOT is FDA-approved for diabetic foot ulcers that don't heal with standard care. Learn what the evidence shows, treatment protocols, and insurance coverage.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Fibromyalgia: What the Research Shows
HBOT for fibromyalgia is investigational, not FDA-approved. A 2015 RCT showed pain and brain activity improvements. Here's what patients should know.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Long COVID: What the Research Shows
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Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Multiple Sclerosis: What Patients Need to Know
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Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Non-Healing Wounds
HBOT is FDA-approved for chronic non-healing wounds. Learn which wound types qualify, how the treatment works, what to expect, and how to access coverage.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Osteomyelitis
HBOT is FDA-approved for refractory osteomyelitis. Learn how it fights chronic bone infections that don't respond to antibiotics and surgery alone.
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Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Radiation Injury
HBOT is FDA-approved for soft tissue and bone damage caused by radiation therapy. Learn about osteoradionecrosis, radiation proctitis, and treatment protocols.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Retinal Artery Occlusion
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Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Skin Grafts and Flaps
HBOT is an FDA-approved treatment for compromised skin grafts and flaps. Learn how it improves graft survival rates and who qualifies for treatment.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Sudden Hearing Loss
HBOT is an FDA-approved adjunct treatment for sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Learn how it works, what research shows, and when to act.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for TBI and Concussion: What the Research Shows
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Hyperbaric Therapy for Necrotizing Fasciitis and Soft Tissue Infections
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Long COVID Symptoms and HBOT Research: A Detailed Look
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Osteoradionecrosis of the Jaw: HBOT and the Marx Protocol
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The 14-Day Treatment Window for HBOT and Sudden Hearing Loss
AAO-HNSF guidelines recommend HBOT within 14 days of sudden sensorineural hearing loss onset. After 3 months, response is unlikely. Here's why timing matters.
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Medicare requires Wagner Grade III or higher for HBOT coverage. Here's what the 0-5 scale means, how wounds are graded, and what Grade III looks like clinically.
When Is HBOT Required for Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?
HBOT is recommended for CO poisoning when COHb exceeds 25%, or lower thresholds apply for pregnancy, cardiac ischemia, or neurological symptoms. Here's the UHMS clinical criteria.
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HBOT is used for select serious burns as an adjunct to standard burn care. Third-degree thermal burns, electrical burns, and inhalation injury are the most studied applications.