Why this case matters
Many individuals live with long-term effects after traumatic brain injury. Interest has grown in whether hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) might help by improving oxygen delivery to brain regions that remain viable yet underactive. This pilot case study examined HBOT in a 54-year-old man with persistent neurological symptoms one year after injury.
Study at a glance
The patient completed two series of treatments: first 20 daily one-hour sessions at 2.0 ATA with 100% oxygen, then 60 sessions after a one-year interval. Researchers evaluated electrophysiology using event-related potentials, metabolic measures, and a battery of sensorimotor and neuropsychological tests.
What changed
After the initial 20 sessions, the patient showed improvements in sensorimotor function and an increase in P300 amplitude in the injured hemisphere. Many of these gains diminished by the one-year follow-up, yet they reappeared after the additional 60 sessions. Neuropsychological scores also improved after the second series. The authors interpret this as preliminary evidence that HBOT may influence both neurophysiological markers and functional outcomes in chronic brain injury.
How to interpret the findings
This is a single-patient report, so results should be viewed as exploratory rather than definitive. The pattern suggests that a larger treatment dose may be needed to sustain benefits, but only controlled, longitudinal studies can clarify optimal parameters, durability of effects, and which patients are most likely to respond. For families and clinicians, HBOT may be considered a potential adjunct within a comprehensive rehabilitation plan, ideally under medical supervision and with realistic expectations.
Chek out the PubMed article here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17234213/
