title: The effect of hyperbaric oxygen on symptoms after mild traumatic brain injury.
abstract: In this single-center, double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled, prospective trial at the U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, the effects of 2.4 atmospheres absolute (ATA) hyperbaric oxygen (HBO₂) on post-concussion symptoms in 50 military service members with at least one combat-related, mild traumatic brain injury were examined. Each subject received 30 sessions of either a sham compression (room air at 1.3 ATA) or HBO₂ treatments at 2.4 ATA over an 8-week period. Individual and total symptoms scores on Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT®) and composite scores on Post-traumatic Disorder Check List-Military Version (PCL-M) were measured just prior to intervention and 6 weeks after completion of intervention. Difference testing of post-intervention means between the sham-control and HBO₂ group revealed no significant differences on the PCL-M composite score (t=-0.205, p=0.84) or on the ImPACT total score (t=-0.943, p=0.35), demonstrating no significant effect for HBO₂ at 2.4 ATA. PCL-M composite scores and ImPACT total scores for sham-control and HBO(2) groups revealed significant improvement over the course of the study for both the sham-control group (t=3.76, p=0.001) and the HBO₂ group (t=3.90, p=0.001), demonstrating no significant HBO₂ effect. Paired t-test results revealed 10 ImPACT scale scores in the sham-control group improved from pre- to post-testing, whereas two scale scores significantly improved in the HBO₂ group. One PCL-M measure improved from pre- to post-testing in both groups. This study showed that HBO₂ at 2.4 ATA pressure had no effect on post-concussive symptoms after mild TBI.
authors.affiliation: USAF School of Aerospace Medicine, Hyperbaric Medicine Department, Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center, Lackland AFB, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cifu
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Baugh
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Carne
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Profenna
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult