Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy after Acute Thoracic Spinal Cord Injury: Improvement of Locomotor Recovery in Rats.

The aim of this study was to analyze the effectiveness of hyperbaric therapy (HT) using mild and moderate models of spinal cord injury (SCI). SCI can cause permanent impairment with socioeconomic consequences. The motor deficit occurs by two mechanisms: destruction of neuronal cells and local inflammatory response, resulting in hypoxia. HT acts by increasing oxygen in the injured area. Thoracic laminectomy was performed in 72 female Wistar rats. The MASCIS impactor was used at 12.5 mm (n = 35) and 25 mm (n = 35) of height to perform, respectively, mild and moderate SCI. Muscle strength was assessed through the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan scale (BBB) on days 1, 7, 14, 21, and 28 after SCI. The animals were randomized into five subgroups with seven animals each: (1) control group had SCI without HT; (2) HT 30 minutes after SCI; (3) HT 30 minutes after SCI and daily for 7 days; (4) HT 12 hours after SCI; and (5) HT 12 hours after SCI and daily for 7 days. HT was performed at 2.5 atm for 1 hour.

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