Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy - Hyperbaric Chamber Information ...

a 4-point rating scale (0 = no pain). Pain tolerance in each of the 10 previously described
tender points was assessed using a dolorimeter (a spring-loaded algometer capped with a
rubber head) with results being expressed in kilograms per centimetre.
The authors report no differences in the outcomes between the two groups when
measured by manual palpation and dolorimetry (Table 55). However, the overall severity
of the headache was found to be reduced in a statistically significant fashion in patients
exposed to HBO compared to those in the comparison group (p = 0.03).
Table 55 Major outcomes following treatment for migraine headaches in intervention and comparison
groups (Wilson et al). 90
Outcome Intervention Group (n = 10) Comparison Group (n = 10)
Manual palpation
Pretreatment Mean
Posttreatment Mean
p
Dolorimetry, kg/cm 2
Pretreatment Mean
Posttreatment Mean
p
Visual analogue scale
Pretreatment Mean
Posttreatment Mean
p
* Figures in parentheses are standard errors.
19.33 (4.51)*
12.33 (5.38)
0.03
37.88 (6.68)
45.07 (6.68)
0.87
7.9 (0.64)
3.5 (1.34)
0.03
25.75 (5.03)
9.05 (2.02)
0.02
34.35 (10.92)
42.38 (11.47)
0.90
6.5 (0.87)
6.3 (1.75)
0.99
Myers and Myers 91 examined subjective headache pain with the use of a modified visual
analogue scale with six descriptors (ranging from “none” to “most severe ever”). Nine of
10 patients exposed to hyperbaric oxygen reported “none” or “mild” response compared
to one of 10 subjects in the comparison group (p = 0.0003).
Both studies did not use outcome criteria recommended by the International Headache
Society.
Summary
Exposure to HBO seems to provide pain relief for migraine headaches. However, more
studies in different settings and examining more varied outcomes in larger groups of
patients are required to provide conclusive evidence of a firm and generalisable effect.
Facial paralysis
The study by Racic et al 92 was the only one that met inclusion and exclusion criteria for
this indication. In this double-masked, randomised, placebo-controlled trial, the authors
examined the effectiveness of HBOT versus oral prednisone on degenerative changes
and recovery in Bell’s palsy. The study was conducted in Croatia and recruited volunteers
after the diagnosis of Bell’s palsy was established by history, physical examination, and
testing. The severity of paralysis was graded as mild, moderate, severe, or total according
to the systems of House 93 and Pietersen. 94 Only those patients with moderate or worse
conditions were studies. The mean age of the study population was above 35 years of
age, with males comprising 48 of 79 (61%) subjects.
56 Hyperbaric oxygen therapy