Hyperbaric oxygen therapy in managing systemic inflammatory response syndrome caused by ischemia-reperfusion injury following hand replantation and long-term outcomes: A report of two cases

INTRODUCTION: Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury (IRI) is a complication following the reperfusion of ischemic tissues; it requires immediate treatment, as it can lead to severe infection and tissue death. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the ability of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) to treat SIRS (Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome) caused by IRI and to provide long-term functional assessment for a period of up to 5 years. CASE PRESENTATION: Two cases of avulsions of the hand at the levels of the wrist joint and the medial third forearm, severed by machetes. Both patients were male and in their twenties. Hand replantation was carried out after 30 minutes (medial third forearm case) and 11 hours (wrist joint case) of ischemic time. A couple of days after surgery, both patients experienced SIRS as a result of IRI. The patients were brought to the hyperbaric chamber and received 3 consecutive 90-min sessions of HBOT at 2.4 ATA 3 days in a row. The outcomes were compared in a table with each patient's vital signs and laboratory results, both before and after HBOT. A significant improvement was seen at the follow-ups in vital signs and laboratory results for both patients after HBOT administration. Long-term follow-up also showed satisfying results for hand function, proven by low DASH (Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand) scores. CONCLUSION: HBOT was able to treat SIRS in both patients. Favorable long-term hand function results signify successful extremity replantation.