Pain-only decompression sickness affecting the orbicularis oculi.
A case is reported of a diver who experienced the onset of pain in the left orbicularis oculi muscle approximately 20 min after surfacing from an experimental dive. A careful neurologic examination disclosed no abnormality. The response of the orbicularis oculi muscle to stimulation of the facial nerve and the blink reflex were both normal as recorded with a clinical neurophysiologic recording system (Nicolet CA 1000). The pain resolved quickly with recompression, supporting a diagnosis of pain-only decompression sickness in this small facial muscle.
D000328:Adult; D003665:Decompression Sickness / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation; D008297:Male; D009801:Oculomotor Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology*