EEG-based brain biomarker supports hyperbaric oxygen therapy for acute concussions

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Sports Medicine
• Biomarkers

Background:

• Acute concussion is a major health concern for young athletes, impacting their lives and performance.
• Current rest-based care for concussion is debated, and effective treatments are limited.
• An electroencephalogram-based brain biomarker (EEGBB) offers an objective measure for concussion diagnosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO₂) in treating acute concussions using an EEGBB.
• To assess the safety and preliminary effectiveness of HBO₂ as a concussion treatment.

Main Methods:

• A pilot case series evaluated school-aged patients with acute concussion confirmed by EEGBB.
• Patients received hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO₂) at 1.5-2.0 ATA until symptom-free, with EEGBB assessments before and after treatment.
• Eleven patients were treated within ten days of injury, with EEGBB scores tracked throughout the process.

Main Results:

• Median baseline EEGBB scores indicated concussion (≤70), with post-treatment scores significantly improving (median 85).
• A median of three HBO₂ treatments were administered over two days.
• No adverse events were reported during the study, and follow-up scores remained high.

Conclusions:

• Preliminary data suggest that EEGBB objectively supports the use of HBO₂ for treating acute concussions.
• HBO₂ shows potential as a novel treatment for concussion, warranting further investigation.
• Further research is needed to establish the optimal HBO₂ regimen for concussion treatment.