What Researchers Did
Researchers reported an unusual case of progressive ulnar palsy that developed as a late complication of decompression sickness.
What They Found
They found that a patient developed progressive ulnar palsy 22 days after the onset of neurological decompression sickness, following initial symptoms of numbness and paresthesias. Initial recompression therapy provided only partial relief, but a total of seven daily hyperbaric oxygen treatments led to partial resolution and complete recovery within four months.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients experiencing decompression sickness should be aware that neurological complications, such as ulnar palsy, can develop weeks after initial symptoms. Prompt and repeated hyperbaric oxygen therapy may be beneficial for resolving even delayed and progressive neurological deficits.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
As a single case report, the findings of this study cannot be generalized to a larger patient population.