Treatment of nervous system injuries by hyperbaric oxygen: a review of molecular mechanisms

Background and aims: The use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy is one of the treatment methods to treat many diseases and injuries such as decompression sickness, wound healing, carbon monoxide poisoning, thermal burns, and nervous system injuries. This article aims to review the possible mechanisms of the effectiveness of this treatment in neurological injuries according to the available studies. Methods: This review article has been performed by searching in international databases between 2000 and 2018 with keywords such as hyperbaric oxygen therapy, nerve injury, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, neuropathic pain, emphasizing mechanisms of neuroprotection induced by the hyperbaric oxygen. Results: The beneficial effects of hyperbaric oxygen can be related to several biological activities, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic effects. However, the mechanisms responsible for it have not been fully identified yet, and require further investigation. Conclusion: Since neurological defects caused by injury to the nervous system are probably due to inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis, it seems that hyperbaric oxygen can be considered as an effective treatment for nerve injuries.