A recent retrospective study has found that hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a safe and effective treatment option for patients with incomplete cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) who have undergone surgery. The study, conducted at Shulan Hangzhou Hospital in China, compared patients who received HBOT in addition to conventional treatment with those who received conventional treatment alone. The results showed that the HBOT group had a higher total effectiveness rate and better recovery outcomes than the non-HBOT group.
SCI is a traumatic injury that affects the spinal cord, causing various degrees of paralysis or loss of function. Incomplete SCI refers to injuries in which there is some remaining function or sensation below the level of the injury. The goal of treatment for incomplete SCI is to promote healing and maximize recovery of function. Surgery, nerve decompression, and internal fixation procedures are commonly used to treat incomplete SCI.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for spinal cord injury therapy is a non-invasive treatment that involves exposing the patient to 100% oxygen in a pressurized chamber, which enhances oxygen delivery to the body’s tissues. HBOT has been used to treat a variety of conditions, including wounds, carbon monoxide poisoning, and decompression sickness. It has also been used to promote healing and reduce inflammation in spinal cord injuries.
The study included 78 patients with incomplete cervical SCI who underwent surgery within 2 weeks of their injury. The patients were divided into two groups: the HBOT group, which received HBOT in addition to conventional treatment, and the non-HBOT group, which received conventional treatment alone. The researchers evaluated the patients’ spinal functions and activities of daily living (ADL) using the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) scale and the Barthel Index at various time points after the surgical procedure.
The results of the study showed that the HBOT group had a significantly higher total effectiveness rate than the non-HBOT group (90% vs. 78.9%). The ASIA scores and Barthel indices also showed significant differences between the two groups at various time points, with the HBOT group showing better recovery outcomes than the non-HBOT group. The researchers found that the peak in recovery occurred within the first three months after the surgical procedure, and that the longer the HBOT lasted (initiated within 3 months after the surgery), the better the outcomes.
The study’s findings suggest that hyperbaric oxygen therapy for spinal cord injury can be a safe and effective treatment option for patients with incomplete cervical SCI who have undergone surgery. The results also indicate that HBOT can promote spinal cord function, reduce disabilities, and improve patients’ quality of life. However, further research is needed to confirm these findings and to determine the optimal duration and timing of HBOT for patients with SCI.
The study provided promising evidence for the use of HBOT in the treatment of incomplete cervical SCI. The findings highlight the importance of considering HBOT as a potential treatment option for patients with SCI who have undergone surgery, and the need for further research in this area.
