Long Lasting Effect of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy on Cognitive Function in Traumatic Brain Injury Patients

Purpose of the trial, rationale including definition of quantitative measures and description of participant recruitment: Background and rationale: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the most common causes of disability and death in the general population \[1\]. Recent studies have shown that hyperbaric oxygen therapy helps improve cognitive function and quality of life in patients with chronic neurological deficits after traumatic brain injury of various severities, due to changes in brain neuroplasticity \[2-4\]. To date, only a few studies have examined the sustained effect of hyperbaric therapy on somatic, cognitive, or emotional symptoms in this population. Only two studies examined persistent effects in the range of 6 to 12 months after the end of a series of treatments \[5-6\]. Study objective: The aim of the current study is to evaluate the cognitive functions of patients who suffered brain injury due to traumatic head injury and were previously treated in a hyperbaric chamber between one and four years after the end of treatment.