The Treatment of Perioperative Spinal Cord Injury With Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: A Case Report

Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2020 Sep 1;45(17):E1127-E1131. doi: 10.1097/BRS.0000000000003502.

Abstract

Study design: Case report (level IV evidence).

Objective: To describe a potential novel application of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in the successful treatment of a postoperative spinal cord injury.

Summary of background data: A 68-year-old man presented with an acute spinal cord injury (ASIA impairment scale D), on the background of degenerative lower thoracic and lumbar canal stenosis. He underwent emergent decompression and instrumented fusion (T9-L5), with an uncomplicated intraoperative course and no electrophysiological changes. Immediate postoperative assessment demonstrated profound bilateral limb weakness (1/5 on the Medical Research Council [MRC] grading scale, ASIA impairment scale B), without radiological abnormality.

Methods: Conventional medical management (hypertension, level 2 care) was instigated with the addition of Riluzole, with no effect after 30 hours. At 36 hours 100% oxygen at 2.8 atmospheres was applied for 90 minutes, and repeated after 8 hours, with a further three treatments over 48 hours.

Results: The patient demonstrated near-immediate improvement in lower limb function to anti-gravity (MRC grading 3/5) after one treatment. Motor improvement continued over the following treatments, and after 2 weeks the patient was ambulatory. At 4 months, the patient demonstrated normal motor function with no sphincteric disturbance.

Conclusion: The application of HBOT contributed to the immediate and sustained improvement (ASIA B to ASIA E) in motor recovery after postoperative spinal cord injury. HBOT may represent a new avenue of therapy for spinal cord injury, and requires further prospective investigation.

Level of evidence: 4.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Decompression, Surgical / adverse effects
  • Humans
  • Hyperbaric Oxygenation / methods*
  • Laminectomy / adverse effects
  • Male
  • Postoperative Complications / diagnostic imaging*
  • Postoperative Complications / etiology
  • Postoperative Complications / therapy*
  • Spinal Cord Injuries / diagnostic imaging*
  • Spinal Cord Injuries / etiology
  • Spinal Cord Injuries / therapy*
  • Spinal Fusion / adverse effects
  • Treatment Outcome