Case Report Undersea Biomed Res 1986

Pain-only decompression sickness affecting the orbicularis oculi

Hart B, Dutka A, Flynn E — Undersea Biomed Res, 1986

View Original on PubMed PMID 3810986

Tier 2, Indexed

Automatically imported from PubMed based on relevance criteria.

Summary

What Researchers Did

Researchers reported on a single case of a diver who experienced pain in a small facial muscle after an experimental dive.

What They Found

A diver developed pain in the left orbicularis oculi muscle approximately 20 minutes after surfacing from a dive. Despite the pain, a careful neurological examination, facial nerve stimulation, and blink reflex tests all showed normal results. The pain quickly resolved with recompression, supporting a diagnosis of pain-only decompression sickness affecting this specific facial muscle.

Canadian Relevance

This study covers decompression sickness, which is a Health Canada-recognised indication for hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Study Limitations

As a case report, this study describes only one individual's experience and may not be representative of all cases of decompression sickness.

This plain-language summary is generated with AI assistance and checked against the source abstract before publication. See our editorial policy.

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Study Details

Study Type	Case Report
Category	Neurological
Source	Pubmed
PubMed ID	3810986
Year Published	1986
Journal	Undersea Biomed Res
MeSH Terms	Adult; Decompression Sickness; Electric Stimulation; Facial Nerve; Humans; Hyperbaric Oxygenation; Male; Oculomotor Muscles; Pain

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Disclaimer: This study summary is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice. The information presented reflects the findings of the original research authors and may not represent the views of Canada Hyperbarics. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making treatment decisions.

Last reviewed: April 17, 2026 | Reviewed by: Canada Hyperbarics Editorial Team | Editorial process | Research sources | Counts & methodology