Appendix 1. Original search methods section 2003 and first update 2012

See: Cochrane Wounds Group search strategy.

Original review:

All publications potentially describing RCTs of therapeutic agents for chronic ulcers were sought from the Specialised Trials Register of the Wounds Group. The Wounds Group Trials Register contains citations of trials identified from searches of 19 electronic databases, including MEDLINE, and EMBASE, and through handsearching journals and conference proceedings.
The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) was searched; MEDLINE (1966 to 2003) and EMBASE (1974 to 2003) were also searched.
In addition we made a systematic search for relevant controlled trials in specific hyperbaric literature sources:

1. Experts in the field and leading hyperbaric therapy centres (as identified by personal communication and searching the Internet) were contacted and asked for additional relevant data in terms of published or unpublished randomised trials.

2. Relevant hyperbaric textbooks (Kindwall 1999; Jain 1999; Oriani 1996), journals (Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine, Hyperbaric Medicine Review, South Pacific Underwater Medicine Society (SPUMS) Journal, European Journal of Hyperbaric Medicine and Aviation, Space and Environmental Medicine Journal) and conference proceedings (Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society, SPUMS, European Undersea and Baromedical Society, International Congress of Hyperbaric Medicine) published since 1980 were handsearched.

3. Authors of relevant studies were contacted to request details of unpublished or ongoing investigations.

4. Database of randomised controlled trials in hyperbaric medicine was searched (DORCTHIM, Bennett 2003). We used the specific search terms "hyperbaric oxygenation", "wounds and injuries", "ulcer", "skin ulcer", "diabetic foot", "varicose ulcer" and "foot ulcer".

First update searches:

The Cochrane Wounds Group Specialised Register (searched January 12 2012);
The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library 2011, Issue 4);
Ovid MEDLINE (1950 to January Week 1 2012);
Ovid MEDLINE (In‐Process & Other Non‐Indexed Citations, January 11, 2012);
Ovid EMBASE (1980 to 2012 Week 01);
EBSCO CINAHL (1982 to January 6 2012).

Appendix 2. Ovid MEDLINE search strategy

1 exp Chronic Disease/
2 exp Wound Healing/
3 and/1‐2
4 exp Skin Ulcer/
5 exp Diabetic Foot/
6 (skin ulcer$ or foot ulcer$ or diabetic foot or varicose ulcer$ or venous ulcer$ or leg ulcer$ or stasis ulcer$ or arterial ulcer$ or (lower extremit$ adj ulcer$) or crural ulcer$ or ulcus cruris).ti,ab.
7 ((ischaemic or ischemic) adj (wound$ or ulcer$)).ti,ab.
8 (bed sore$ or pressure sore$ or pressure ulcer$ or decubitus ulcer$).ti,ab.
9 chronic wound$.ti,ab.
10 (chronic adj3 ulcer$).ti,ab.
11 or/3‐10
12 exp Hyperbaric Oxygenation/
13 (hyperbar$ adj oxygen$).ti,ab.
14 high pressure oxygen$.ti,ab.
15 oxygen.ti.
16 or/12‐15

Appendix 3. Ovid EMBASE search strategy

1 exp Chronic Wound/
2 exp Skin Ulcer/
3 exp Diabetic Foot/
4 (skin ulcer$ or foot ulcer$ or diabetic foot or varicose ulcer$ or venous ulcer$ or leg ulcer$ or stasis ulcer$ or arterial ulcer$ or (lower extremit$ adj ulcer$) or crural ulcer$ or ulcus cruris).ti,ab.
5 ((ischaemic or ischemic) adj (wound$ or ulcer$)).ti,ab.
6 (bed sore$ or pressure sore$ or pressure ulcer$ or decubitus ulcer$).ti,ab.
7 chronic wound$.ti,ab.
8 (chronic adj3 ulcer$).ti,ab.
9 or/1‐8
10 exp hyperbaric oxygen/
11 (hyperbar$ adj oxygen$).ti,ab.
12 high pressure oxygen$.ti,ab.
13 oxygen.ti.
14 or/10‐13
15 9 and 14

Appendix 4. EBSCO CINAHL search strategy

S14 S8 and S13
S13 (S9 or S10 or S11 or S12)
S12 TI oxygen
S11 TI high pressure oxygen or AB high pressure oxygen
S10 TI hyperbar* oxygen* or AB hyperbar* oxygen*
S9 (MH "Hyperbaric Oxygenation")
S8 S1 or S2 or S3 or S4 or S5 or S6 or S7
S7 TI ( chronic wound* or chronic ulcer* ) or AB ( chronic wound* or chronic ulcer* )
S6 TI ( bed sore* or pressure sore* or pressure ulcer* or decubitus ) or AB ( bed sore* or pressure sore* or pressure ulcer* or decubitus )
S5 AB skin ulcer* or foot ulcer* or diabetic foot* or diabetic feet or leg ulcer* or varicose ulcer* or venous ulcer* or stasis ulcer* or arterial ulcer* or ischemic ulcer* or ischaemic ulcer* or lower extremit*
S4 TI skin ulcer* or foot ulcer* or diabetic foot* or diabetic feet or leg ulcer* or varicose ulcer* or venous ulcer* or stasis ulcer* or arterial ulcer* or ischemic ulcer* or ischaemic ulcer* or lower extremit*
S3 (MH "Diabetic Foot")
S2 (MH "Skin Ulcer+")
S1 (MH "Wounds, Chronic")