What Researchers Did
This article explains how doctors can detect and manage bone damage in divers who have had joint pain from decompression sickness.
What They Found
This is a clinical review recommending that divers with musculoskeletal decompression sickness affecting the shoulder or hip get a joint MRI two months after the incident to check for intraosseous edema, a condition that risks progressing to osteonecrosis (bone death). The review states that hyperbaric oxygen therapy sessions have an anti-edematous effect, which can help speed intraosseous healing and limit the risk of progression to osteonecrosis. It recommends that a specialist diving doctor be consulted for a full assessment before divers resume diving activity. The abstract does not report specific patient numbers, pressure levels, or session counts for the hyperbaric oxygen therapy discussed.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For divers recovering from joint pain after a dive, this review suggests that timely MRI imaging of the shoulder or hip can help catch bone lesions early. It also notes that hyperbaric oxygen therapy sessions have been shown to have an anti-edematous effect that may help limit progression to osteonecrosis. The abstract emphasizes that a diving physician should guide the decision about when it is safe to return to diving.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
As a clinical review rather than a controlled trial, this article does not report original data, sample sizes, or statistical testing to support its recommendations.