Hyperbaric oxygen in burn management: a controlled study.

Using the methods and protocol outlined, we have found that hyperbaric oxygen functions as a mild antiseptic agent and provides no advantage in the treatment of full-thickness and partial-thickness burns, alone or in combination with topical treatment with silver sulfadiazine. No effects were observed on metabolic balance in the postburn state determined by percentage of weight change, the time to complete healing in partial-thickness burns or the rate of eschar separation and vascular proliferation in granulation tissue formation in full-thickness burns.