Recent developments in the 50-year-old technique of using a hyperbaric oxygen chamber for treatment of disease and other conditions have caught the interest of the brain-injury-concerned Department of Defense and the U.S. Military. Next year, the military will begin funding trials to test the efficacy of using oxygen chambers for treatment of over a hundred thousand troops returning home from Afghanistan and Iraq with traumatic brain injuries from roadside bomb blasts.
Next year, about 300 veterans with brain injuries will undergo treatment in the oxygen chambers to determine to what extent the treatment heals and/or eases their injuries and symptoms. They will spend up to 40 hours over 10 weeks in pure oxygen chambers, anAssociated Press article said. The control group will be placed in pressurized chambers without the same level of pure oxygen.
Since previous trials have not been conducted to military standards, they have decided to take matters into their own hands and gather conclusive data about the technique. A preliminary trial will take place this summer at Camp Pendleton for 50 to 100 troops, the article noted. While the military trials will be restricted to those with mild to moderate injuries, the article reported that civilian trials are already taking place for those with more severe injuries.
The study, beginning in January of 2011, will be conducted by the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury and the Army Research and Materiel Command over 18 months, a USA Today article reported. The study will take place at Fort Carson, CO; Camp Lejeune, N.C.; Brooks City-Base, TX; Camp Pendleton, CA; and potentially Fort Hood, TX. The initial study is aimed at mostly Marines and soldiers whose injuries took place within four to six months before the treatment.
References:
Elliot, Dan. (April 1, 2010) ‘Military plans to test brain-injury therapy.’ Retrieved on April 6, 2010 from the Washington Post Web site: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/01/AR201004…
KWTX Staff. (April 1, 2010) ‘Military To Test New Brain Injury Therapy; Trials Possible At Fort Hood.’ Retrieved on April 6, 2010 from the KWTX Web site:http://www.kwtx.com/health/headlines/89729817.html
McCullough, Amy. (April 1, 2010) ‘Hyperbaric chamber may treat traumatic brain injury.’ Retrieved on April 6, 2010 from the USA Today Web site:http://www.usatoday.com/news/military/2010-03-31-hyperbaric-treatment-mi…
Sharma, Prakash. (April 2, 2010) ‘Military Shares Plans of Effectively Testing Brain-Injury Therapy.’ Retrieved on April 6, 2010 from the Top News Web site:http://topnews.us/content/215069-military-shares-plans-effectively-testi…