Quantitative evaluation of hyperbaric oxygen efficacy in experimental traumatic brain injury: an MRI study

To use DCE-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diffusion-weighted imaging to evaluate the hyperbaric oxygen efficacy (HBO) in experimental traumatic brain injury (TBI). Forty-two rabbits were randomly divided into four groups: TBI, TBI + HBO, sham group, sham + HBO. The TBI + HBO and sham + HBO received a total of 10 HBO treatments within 7 days following TBI, and MRI was performed within a month after TBI. Functional assessments were performed pre-TBI, and at 1 and 30 days. In focal lesion area, K^trans in TBI + HBO group was lower than TBI group at both acute and subacute phase (p < 0.05). ADC was higher in TBI + HBO group than TBI group at acute phase (p < 0.01), but lower at subacute phase (p < 0.05). In perifocal area, K^trans were lower in TBI + HBO group than TBI group at acute phase (p < 0.01) after TBI. ADC was lower in the TBI + HBO group than in the TBI group at both acute and subacute phase (p < 0.01).The VCS was higher in TBI + HBO group than TBI group at 30 days (p < 0.05). HBO could improve the impaired BBB and cytotoxic edema after TBI and promote the recovery of neurofunction.