by HBOT News | Jul 27, 2017 | Key Spinal Cord Injury Research, Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a complex disease process that involves both primary and secondary mechanisms of injury and can leave patients with devastating functional impairment as well as psychological debilitation. While no curative treatment is available for spinal cord injury, current therapeutic approaches focus on reducing the secondary injury that follows SCI. Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy has shown promising neuroprotective effects in several experimental studies, but the limited number of clinical reports have shown mixed findings. This review will provide an overview of the potential mechanisms by which HBO therapy may exert neuroprotection, provide a summary of the clinical application of HBO therapy in patients with SCI, and discuss avenues for future studies.
by HBOT News | Jul 21, 2017 | Key Spinal Cord Injury Research, Spinal Cord Injuries
Little research has been done on the effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) on depression and anxiety after spinal cord injury (SCI). The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of HBO on psychological problems and never function, especially on depression and anxiety in the patients with incomplete SCI (ISCI).Sixty patients with ISCI combined with depression and anxiety were randomly divided into HBO group (20 cases), psychotherapy group (20 cases), and conventional rehabilitation control group (20 cases). All patients received routine rehabilitation therapy. However, in HBO group and psychotherapy group, patients also received HBO and psychotherapy, respectively. These therapies lasted for a total of 8 weeks (once a day and 6 days per week). Before and after 8 weeks of treatment, depression and anxiety, nerve function, and activities of daily living were, respectively, evaluated according to Hamilton Depression (HAMD) scale, Hamilton Anxiety (HAMA) scale, American Spinal Injury Association score, and functional independence measure score in all patients.After 8 weeks of treatment, HAMD score was significantly lower in both HBO group and psychotherapy group than in control group (all P < .05), but there was no statistical difference in HAMD score between HBO group and psychotherapy group (P > .05). HAMA score was significantly lower in HBO group than in control group (P < .05), but there was no statistical difference in HAMA score between HBO group and psychotherapy group, and between psychotherapy group and control group (all P > .05). After 8 weeks of treatment, American Spinal Injury Association and functional independence measure scores were significantly higher in HBO group than in both psychological and control groups, and also higher in psychotherapy group than in control group (all P < .05).The effects of HBO on depression and anxiety are similar to that of psychotherapy. HBO can significantly improve nerve function and activities of daily living in the patients with ISCI, which either psychotherapy or routine rehabilitation therapy can not substitute.
by HBOT News | Apr 8, 2017 | Clinical Trials, HBOT Research, Spinal Cord Injuries
To observe modified Barthel index, American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) impairment scale
grading, sensory score and motor score in patients with incomplete SCI in the plateau using
0.2 MPa HBO combined with pedicle screw fixation and decompressive laminectomy so as to
investigate the effect of HBO therapy on incomplete SCI in the plateau.
by HBOT News | Mar 24, 2017 | Spinal Cord Injuries
Abstract: Geraniol, a plant-derived monoterpene, has been extensively studied and showed a wide variety of beneficial effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of geraniol on functional recovery and neuropathic pain in rats with spinal...
by HBOT News | Mar 22, 2017 | Clinical Trials, HBOT Research, Traumatic Injury of the Spinal Cord
Hypothesis of the Study:
Based on the presented results, the investigator hypothesises that HBO preserves neurons that
are not irreversibly damaged (i.e. severed) during initial trauma, thus enabling regain of
their function. The investigator predicts that HBO treatment protects and enhances motor
function in initially paralysed regions, including improvement in function of the extremities
as well as recovery of urinary bladder control and bowel function.
Outline of the Proposed Study:
Within a prospective "proof of principle" trial, a total of 100 patients will be included.
Fifty patients will be recruited at the Division of Thoracic and Hyperbaric Surgery, Medical
University of Graz. In parallel, 50 control patients will be included at the Department of
Orthopaedics and Trauma, Paracelsus University Salzburg, Salzburger Landeskliniken (SALK),
Austria. Thereby, all patients that are admitted at the Medical University of Graz can be
treated and the enrolment of 50 patients into the treatment group can be implemented within
the outlined time frame. The active recruitment period is planned for three years. Both HBO
treated and control patients will undergo the same surgical and nonsurgical procedures. HBO
treatment will be started within 24 hours after the injury. A total of 21 consecutive daily
sessions will be applied, followed by routine rehabilitation programmes. By matching control
and HBO-treated patients, an evaluation of the treatment effect of HBO is possible. The
outcome will be evaluated by implementing the American Spinal Injury Association
(ASIA)-scores and magnet resonance (MR) imaging. Additionally, inflammatory and regenerative
blood markers will be analysed (neuroendocrine markers/neuro-transmitters: S100beta, Brain
Derived Neurotrophic Growth Factor [BDNF], Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein [GFAP], Reactive
Oxygen Species (ROS), norepinephrine; array of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and
chemokines).