What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study with 61 male Marines to evaluate the effects of hyperbaric oxygen at two dosing levels on blast-related postconcussion syndrome.
What They Found
The study found no significant interaction between time and intervention group for improvement on the Rivermead Post-Concussion Questionnaire-16 (RPQ-16). There was also no evidence of efficacy for any subgroup or on any functional, cognitive, or psychomotor secondary outcome measures among the 61 male Marines who received 40 hyperbaric chamber compressions.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For Canadian patients experiencing postconcussion syndrome, this study suggests that hyperbaric oxygen therapy may not be an effective treatment. Patients should discuss evidence-based treatment options with their healthcare providers rather than pursuing unproven therapies.
Canadian Relevance
This study was conducted in the United States with US military personnel and has no direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
The study's findings are limited to male military personnel with blast-related postconcussion syndrome and may not generalize to other populations or causes of PCS.