Examples of Enhancing Treatment & Care with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: Adjuvant Hbot In Sciatic Nerve Disfunction

An 8-month-old F/S Springer Spaniel was presented by referral.  The patient had a history of severe bilateral hip dysplasia with luxation of the right rear hip.  A femoral head ostectomy (FHO) had been performed one month prior to referral.  The patient had been knuckling on the operated limb since the surgery. (Image left)

Abnormal insertional activity on needle EMG (Image Right) confirmed a sciatic nerve lesion.  An exploratory surgery at the FHO site revealed granulation tissue associated with the ostectomy site.  The sciatic nerve was enveloped by this reactive tissue.  Suture material from the previous surgery was removed.  A Staphylococus species was cultured from the granulation tissue.  The femoral neck excision was revised.  A two-week course of enrofloxacin (based on sensitivity results) was begun, and a total of 7 HBOT sessions over 10 weeks were given.  Marked improvement in gait was noted after the first three sessions, which were given within 48 hours post op.  Progressive recovery continued.  Normal right rear limb gait was noted on follow up 5 months later.

Adjuvant HBOT has been reported to be effective in peripheral nerve injury in human medicine [1] and in some rabbit models of peripheral nerve trauma [2].

[1] Zhao DW, Therapeutic effect of hyperbaric oxygen on recovery of surgically repaired peripheral nerve injury. Chung Hua Wai Ko Tsa  Chih 29; 118-120

[2] Bradshaw PO et al, Effect of hyperbaric oxygenation on peripheral nerve regeneration in adult male rabbits. Undersea Hyperbaric Medicine 23: 107-113

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