Hyperbaric oxygen ameliorated the lesion scope and nerve function in acute spinal cord injury patients: A retrospective study

Objective: This is a retrospective study to assess the therapeutic effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) in early treatment of acute spinal cord injury (SCI) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and electrophysiology in diagnosing. Methods: Forty acute SCI patients from Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital who were assigned into HBO treatment were included during August 2013 to October 2014. The patients with adverse reactions or contraindications for HBO were assigned as controls. Both of two groups (HBO and Control) received medicine treatment with Urbason, GM-1 and mecobalamine after surgery. ASIA and the Frankel scores were used to evaluate the therapeutic effect of HBO at the 15th and 30th day after HBO treatment by using MRI and electrophysiology features. Results: Significant therapeutic effect of HBO treatment on acute SCI patients was observed compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Comparison for ASIA and Frankel scores showed that motor and neurological functions were significantly improved in HBO group at day 15 and day 30 post treatment. MRI images showed that the grade III injury in HBO group was significant lower than the control group. In comparison with the control, the peak of somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) and motor evoked potential (MEP) amplitude increased, the latency was shortened, and the conduction velocity of sensory nerve (SCV) and motor nerve (MCV) was significantly increased in the HBO group (P < 0.05). Conclusions: HBO treatment has a great efficacy in acute SCI patients. HBO therapy at early stage of acute SCI is beneficiary to the recovery.