Hyperbaric oxygenation may increase the rate of recovery from medial collateral ligament injury.

1. No evidence presented to make a clinical appraisal.

Citation/s:
1. Soolsma SJ, Clement DB, Connell DC, McKenzie DC, Taunton JB, Staples JR, Logan MA, Davidson RD. The effect of intermittent hyperbaric oxygen on short term recovery form grade II medial collateral injuries. Allan McGavin Sports Medicine Centre, Vancouver BC, Cananda. 1995.
Lead author's name and fax: Not known

Three-part Clinical Question: For patients with ligamentous injuries, does the application of hyperbaric oxygen, compared to no specific measures, result in an improved rate of recovery?
Search Terms: Sports injuries, ligament strain, soft-tissue

The Study:
Double-blinded randomised controlled trial without intention-to-treat.
The Study Patients: Patients with medial collateral ligamentous injury, Grade II, and referred to a sports medicine clinic.
Control group (N = 9?;  4? analysed): No specific therapy. Sham HBOT breathing air at 1.2ATA for 60 minutes daily for 10 days out of 14.
Experimental group (N = 10? ; 5? analysed): 100% oxygen at 2ATA on the same schedule as sham above.

The evidence: No data presented. Outcomes include pain, swelling, range of motion, strength and MRI. Only 9 of 19 subjects completed pre and post MRI study.

Comments:
1. Short abstract only with no data presented.
2. Multiple outcome measures of some clinical interest in full publication available.
3. Authors suggest "significant findings were found during the treatment period".
4. We are attempting to locate the full publication.

Appraised by: Mike Bennett POWH, Sydney ; Saturday, 31 July 2004
Email: m.bennett@unsw.edu.au
Kill or Update By: July 2005