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Does hyperbaric oxygen therapy facilitate peripheral nerve recovery in upper extremity injuries? A prospective study of 74 patients

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European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Several experimental studies have investigated the effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) on peripheral nerve regeneration. However, to the best of our knowledge, clinical studies to evaluate the effects of HBOT on peripheral nerve recovery are seldom performed. The aim of our study was to investigate the efficacy of HBOT following primary nerve repair in patients with upper extremity nerve injuries.

Methods

Patients admitted to our hospital between 2015 and 2019 with ulnar and median nerve injuries were included in the study. Patients were randomized based on their application dates and divided into two different groups. Patients who received HBOT following standard epineural nerve repair were included in group 1, while patients who only underwent epineural nerve repair were included in group 2. All patients were followed up at 3, 6, and 12 months post-treatment and evaluated through electroneuromyography analysis of the traumatized nerve, injured nerve-related muscle strength, and two-point discrimination test.

Results

Impulse transmission of injured nerves to the end organ was faster in group 1. Further, ENMG parameters demonstrated that injured nerves of patients in group 1 recovered faster. Patients in group 1 also reached higher power score and had significantly more rapid motor recovery than patients in group 2.

Conclusion

This prospective study of upper extremity injuries demonstrated the favorable effects of HBOT on nerve recovery both clinically and electrophysiologically following nerve repair. One HBOT session each day for 5 days after surgical treatment can decrease morbidity and facilitate recovery.

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Funding

The research was not sponsored by an outside organization. We (all of the authors) have agreed to allow full access to the primary data and to allow the journal to review the data if requested.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plastic & Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Meram Faculty of Medicine, Necmettin Erbakan University, 42080, Konya, Turkey

    Bilsev Ince & Mehmet Dadaci

  2. Department of Plastic & Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery,, Istinye University, 34396, Istanbul, Turkey

    Majid Ismayilzada

  3. Department of Hyperbaric and Underwater Medicine, Meram Faculty of Medicine, Necmettin Erbakan University, 42080, Konya, Turkey

    Abdullah Arslan

Authors
  1. Bilsev Ince
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  2. Majid Ismayilzada
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  3. Abdullah Arslan
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  4. Mehmet Dadaci
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Majid Ismayilzada.

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Conflict of interest

None of the authors has a financial interest in any of the products, devices, or drugs mentioned in this manuscript.

Ethical statement

This study conformed to the Helsinki Declaration. We (all of the authors) confirm that we have read the Journal’s position on issues involved in ethical publication and affirm that this report is consistent with those guidelines.

Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary file1 (AVI 70605 KB) Supplemental Digital Content 1. Motor recovery of the patient with ulnar nerve injury in group 1

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Ince, B., Ismayilzada, M., Arslan, A. et al. Does hyperbaric oxygen therapy facilitate peripheral nerve recovery in upper extremity injuries? A prospective study of 74 patients. Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg 48, 3997–4003 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00068-022-01920-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00068-022-01920-3

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