Randomized, Sham-Controlled, Feasibility Trial of Hyperbaric Oxygen for Service Members With Postconcussion Syndrome Cognitive and Psychomotor Outcomes 1 Week Postintervention

Since this failed should we now go down the totally opposite route of sending patients to mountaintops for the thin air? As this suggests;

Training the Brain to Survive Stroke

I trust these results more that the possibly biased results from the Israeli HBOT institute here;

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Can Improve Post Concussion Syndrome Years after Mild Traumatic Brain Injury - Randomized Prospective Trial

And the failed HBOT  trial here;

http://nnr.sagepub.com/content/early/2013/12/23/1545968313516869.abstract?papetoc 

1. William C. Walker, MD1,2,3
2. Laura Manning Franke, PhD1,2,3
3. David X. Cifu, MD1,2,4
4. Brett B. Hart, MD5

1. ¹Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
2. ²Hunter Holmes McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Richmond, VA, USA
3. ³Richmond Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center, Richmond, VA, USA
4. ⁴Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC, USA
5. ⁵Navy Medicine Operational Training Center, Pensacola, FL, USA

1. William C. Walker, MD, Department of PM&R, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1223 East Marshall Street, Richmond, VA 23298, USA. Email: wwalker@mcvh-vcu.edu

Abstract

Background. Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and residual postconcussion syndrome (PCS) are common among combatants of the recent military conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO₂) is a proposed treatment but has not been rigorously studied for this condition. Objectives. In a secondary analysis, examine for possible effects on psychomotor (balance and fine motor) and cognitive performance 1 week after an HBO₂ intervention in service members with PCS after mTBI. Methods. A randomized, double-blind, sham control, feasibility trial comparing pretreatment and posttreatment was conducted in 60 male active-duty marines with combat-related mTBI and PCS persisting for 3 to 36 months. Participants were randomized to 1 of 3 preassigned oxygen fractions (10.5%, 75%, or 100%) at 2.0 atmospheres absolute (ATA), resulting in respective groups with an oxygen exposure equivalent to (1) breathing surface air (Sham Air), (2) 100% oxygen at 1.5 ATA (1.5 ATAO2), and (3) 100% oxygen at 2.0 ATA (2.0 ATAO2). Over a 10-week period, participants received 40 hyperbaric chamber sessions of 60 minutes each. Outcome measures, including computerized posturography (balance), grooved pegboard (fine motor speed/dexterity), and multiple neuropsychological tests of cognitive performance, were collected preintervention and 1-week postintervention. Results. Despite the multiple sensitive cognitive and psychomotor measures analyzed at an unadjusted 5% significance level, this study demonstrated no immediate postintervention beneficial effect of exposure to either 1.5 ATAO2 or 2.0 ATAO2 compared with the Sham Air intervention. Conclusions. These results do not support the use of HBO₂ to treat cognitive, balance, or fine motor deficits associated with mTBI and PCS.