Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for the adjunctive treatment of traumatic brain injury

Dr. Bennett discusses hyperbaric oxygen therapy for the adjunctive treatment of traumatic brain injury. The author published in the Cochraine summaries looking at information from the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) shows significant and exciting potential in a range of acute ischaemic conditions and the meta-analysis strongly suggests that when administered acutely after injury HBOT treatment may save lives.

However, there is very little evidence that functional outcomes are improved. Coupled to this there is clear potential for toxicity. Further research work needs to be done to establish the most appropriate dose of oxygen and the optimal time widow after injury for HBOT use. It is likely that the future use of HBOT will be accompanied by a monitoring of brain partial pressure of oxygen directly, with oxygen dose individualized to each patient.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy – HBOT

Image via Wikipedia

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) and pressurized room air are methods of administering increased levels of oxygen at greater than atmospheric pressure to a patient in order to help heal tissue damage. This allows for the delivery higher concentrations of oxygen to the brain than is normally received through breathing.

The best evidence to date indicates that HBOT and pressurized room air improve motor function in stroke and cerebral palsy patients to a similar degree. There is no clear evidence that explains how increasing oxygen supply to the brain results in neural plasticity (new areas of the brain taking over the role and function of damaged areas,) however the advantages of HBOT are that it is cost-effective, noninvasive, and safe. The effects of HBOT are best seen when the therapy is combined with intensive active exercise practice.

The HandTutor system is a glove and dedicated rehabilitation software that provides customized functional exercise tasks regardless of the patients hand movement ability. Through intensive exercise practice the patient learns how to move their hands again.   www.HandTutor.com