What Researchers Did
Researchers reported on three patients with spinal decompression sickness who were treated using the U.S. Navy Treatment Table 7 (TT7).
What They Found
Three patients with spinal decompression sickness, including two sports divers and one commercial diver, received U.S. Navy Treatment Table 7 (TT7) more than four days after their symptoms began. Two patients showed significant improvement during TT7, while the third improved after additional U.S. Navy Treatment Table 6 (TT6) sessions. One patient experienced mild lung function impairment, but all three eventually returned to their normal daily activities after further treatment and rehabilitation.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
This study suggests that U.S. Navy Treatment Table 7 (TT7) may be a viable option for treating spinal decompression sickness, even when applied several days after onset. For Canadian patients experiencing this condition, which is a Health Canada-recognized indication for hyperbaric oxygen therapy, TT7 could offer an alternative approach, especially in cases resistant to standard treatments.
Canadian Relevance
Decompression sickness is a Health Canada-recognized indication for hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Study Limitations
This report describes only three individual cases, which limits the ability to generalize these findings to a larger patient population.