What Researchers Did
Researchers in Malta reviewed 30 years of medical records for divers treated with hyperbaric oxygen recompression therapy for decompression illness.
What They Found
This retrospective study of 437 cases of decompression illness treated with recompression therapy between 1987 and 2017 found that the pattern of symptoms has shifted over time. The proportion of cases involving musculo-skeletal symptoms is decreasing, while the proportion involving vestibulo-cochlear symptoms (affecting balance and hearing) is increasing. The abstract does not report whether this shift was tested for statistical significance. The researchers suggest the increase in vestibulo-cochlear cases may be linked to changes in diving practices in Malta, though this is offered as a possible explanation rather than a proven cause.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
This study looked at patterns in decompression illness cases among divers, not at how well hyperbaric oxygen treatment worked for them. It does not report outcomes, recovery rates, or treatment effectiveness, so it offers no direct evidence about how well recompression therapy manages either symptom type.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
As a retrospective review of a single treatment centre's records, the study cannot establish why the mix of symptoms changed over time and does not report statistical testing to confirm the trend.