What Researchers Did
Researchers studied 63 divers with spinal cord decompression sickness to find out what factors predicted whether they recovered well.
What They Found
This retrospective study of 63 divers found that the severity of symptoms at first presentation, not the speed or type of treatment, predicted recovery. Twenty-one divers (33%) still had incomplete recovery after one month. Symptom severity at presentation was the only independent predictor of poor outcome (odds ratio 2.68, p less than 0.033). Time to treatment did not affect recovery: divers with and without long-term problems had a similar median delay of 3 hours before treatment, and the choice of recompression procedure (2.8 ATA with 100% oxygen versus 4 ATA with a mixed gas) also did not affect outcome.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
This was a retrospective study of divers treated at specific centers, which limits how well the findings can be generalized to all diving populations or treatment settings.