Therapeutic window for the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in patients with spinal cord injury

Abstract

Objective To compare the therapeutic effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy at different time points on patients with spinal cord injury. Methods A total of 284 cases of spinal cord injury (SCI) were divided into an HBO group and a control group. The control group was treated with routine interventions (including a dehydrator, medication for neurotrophy, rehabilitation management, acupuncture and supportive treatment). The HBO group was treated with HBO in addition to the routine treatments, initiated at different time points after onset of SCI ( from less than 8 hours to longer than 1 week). All of the patients were evaluated in terms of scores on the American Spinal Cord Injury Association (ASIA) assessment and Barthel's index (BI) before and after treatment.Results Both groups had excellent effects when the treatment was initiated within the first 8 hours after the onset of SCI. There was no significant difference between the two groups. Average ASIA and BI scores in both groups improved significantly within the first 24 hours, and over the 1 st week after the onset of SCI. The recovery of neurological function and ability in the activities of daily living (ADL) was significantly better when HBO treatment was initiated within 8 hours after SCI compared with that initiated after 24 hour and 1 week. The therapeutic effects in the HBO group patients were significantly better than in the control group when HBO was initiated at 8 and 24 hours after onset of SCI. Neither the HBO group nor the control group had significant further improvement in ASIA scores or ADL performance when treatments initiated after 1 week. Conclusions HBO can significantly improve neurological function and ADL performance after SCI if it is administered within 1-8 hours. Key words: Spinal cord injury; Hyperbaric oxygen; Therapeutic windows; Curative effects