Abstract:

Retrospective case-control study. The intent of this study was to investigate the relationships between vertebral degenerative changes resulting in spinal canal stenosis, spinal cord lesions and the development of spinal cord decompression sickness (DCS) in scuba divers. Referral hyperbaric facility, Toulon, France. We examined 33 injured divers less than 50 years old by cervical and thoracic MRI and compared them with 34 matched control divers. The number of intervertebral disk abnormalities and the degree of canal compression were analyzed on T2-weighted sagittal images using a validated grading system developed recently. The presence and the distribution of hyperintense cord lesions in relation with the accident and the recovery status at 6 months were also assessed.

Gempp, Louge, Lafolie, Demaistre, Hugon, Blatteau, , , (2014). Relation between cervical and thoracic spinal canal stenosis and the development of spinal cord decompression sickness in recreational scuba divers. Spinal cord, 2014 Mar;52(3):236-40. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24126850