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. 1994 Nov;51(11):730–734. doi: 10.1136/oem.51.11.730

Neurophysiological assessment of divers with medical histories of neurological decompression illness.

A W Murrison 1, E Glasspool 1, R J Pethybridge 1, T J Francis 1, E M Sedgwick 1
PMCID: PMC1128095  PMID: 7849848

Abstract

OBJECTIVE--To examine the possibility that subclinical damage may persist after clinical recovery from neurological decompression illness. METHODS--The neuraxes of 71 divers with medical histories of neurological decompression illness and 37 non-diver controls were examined by recording the somatosensory evoked potentials produced on stimulation of the posterior tibial and median nerves. RESULTS--Although the tests gave some objective support for the presence of "soft" residual neurological symptoms and signs, no evidence was given for the presence of subclinical damage. CONCLUSIONS--The contention that neurological damage persists after full clinical recovery from the neurological decompression illness was not supported.

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Selected References

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