For military and non-military alike, a new study conducted by the Department of Defense may offer some new treatment for those suffering from traumatic brain injuries. The study, scheduled to begin in January 2011, will be run by the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury in Virginia and the Army Research and Material Command in Maryland. The study will attempt to determine the benefits of hyperbaric chambers for those suffering from TBI.
The study will be comprised of 300 individuals, many of them soldiers or Marines who suffered a traumatic brain injury within the past four to six months and are still in the process of healing. The portion of the group receiving treatment will receive 40 sessions, one hour per day, five days a week for eight weeks, in a hyperbaric chamber. Each chamber, which holds between three and 16 people, is at a higher pressure (roughly 1.35 atmospheres), and is filled with 100 percent oxygen. This is a similar pressure to what divers experience 20-25 feet below the surface. The idea is that at a higher pressure, oxygen dissolves in the blood, allowing for more oxygen in the blood, which should promote faster healing of damaged tissue.
For sufferers of TBI, this will hopefully mean a quicker healing process, which would mean fewer symptoms of TBI. Those symptoms generally include headaches, short-term memory loss, mood swings, as well as impairment of affected problem-solving skills. Although there is anecdotal evidence that hyperbaric chambers are beneficial in TBI cases, this study will be the first clinical trial performed to test that hypothesis.
Although hyperbaric chambers are generally very safe, there are a few potential drawbacks participants could suffer. Among the potential risks is damage to the middle and inner ear, as well as to the sinuses, lungs and teeth. As well, a hyperbaric chamber affects blood sugar levels, meaning diabetics should check their blood sugar levels before and after each session. These risks are easily mitigated by correct installation of the chamber by a professional and always keeping a hyperbaric physician on hand, or quickly available, whenever test participants are receiving treatment.
For sufferers of TBI, this study could mean a breakthrough in how quickly they are able to bounce back from their injuries. Military personnel in particular have seen a sharp increase in traumatic brain injuries. The Rand Corporation released a study in 2008 that estimated that 300,000 military troops have suffered a traumatic brain injury of some type. Since 2003, only 100,000 had been diagnosed, meaning two-thirds may be suffering the effects without understanding the root cause. Many of these injuries occurred because of a blast (often a roadside bomb). Because of the prevalence of traumatic brain injuries, the military has planned a new policy that would remove from active service for 24 hours any troops who experience a roadside blast. This new policy, coupled with any effective treatments that may arise because of the hyperbaric chamber study, could mean that suffers of TBI, whether in the military or civilian life, can more quickly heal from the effects of TBI.
