What Researchers Did
Doctors describe the case of a military diver who developed bone damage in the shoulder after being treated for decompression sickness.
What They Found
This case report describes a military diver who was permanently barred from diving after being diagnosed with advanced dysbaric osteonecrosis of the shoulder, found eight months after he was treated with hyperbaric oxygen for type 1 decompression sickness affecting the same area. The authors discuss a close link between the two events in this single patient. The abstract states that the broader link between dysbaric osteonecrosis and prior type 1 decompression sickness remains a controversial subject, and that it is not yet established how often ischemic lesions seen on MRI after decompression sickness go on to become osteonecrosis.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
This is a single case report, and the abstract itself notes that the link between decompression sickness and osteonecrosis is still controversial and not established, so no general conclusions can be drawn from one patient.