The effect of hyperbaric oxygen treatment on postural stability and gait of a brain injured patient: single case study.

Abstract

Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy has been found to reduce intracranial and cerebrospinal fluid pressures, and increase grey matter metabolic activity in patients with brain injuries. To date, few studies have quantitatively assessed the changes in the patient's functional outcomes following this expensive therapeutic intervention. The purpose of this case study was to examine the immediate and longer term changes in postural stability and gait in a 17 year old patient who sustained a traumatic brain injury, following administration of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy combined with physical and occupational therapy. The patient underwent assessments of postural stability and gait 1 week prior to HBO therapy, immediately following, and 6 weeks after completion of HBO therapy. Some improvements in postural stability were observed immediately following HBO, although these improvements were not evident 6 weeks later. Only slight improvements were noted in his walking abilities immediately following the intervention, with essentially little change evident 6 weeks later. The results of this do not support anecdotal evidence that there were substantial improvements in the subject's postural stability and gait following HBO therapy.