Risk Factors of Gempp and Blatteau for Poor Outcome in a Scuba Diver with Spinal Cord Decompression Illness

 

Signs of spinal cord decompression injury may include bilateral sensory and/or motor deficits, acute back pain, and/or urinary bladder dysfunction.

 

Clinical outcome: status 1 month after the episode

 

Major risk factor for a poor outcome on multivariate analysis:

(1) gravity score of Boussuges et al (see previous section) > 7 (odds ratio 2.7)

 

Risk factors identified on univariate analysis:

(1) age > 45 years

(2) short interval between end of dive and onset of symptoms

(3) acute back pain preceding neurological manifestations

(4) number of hyperbaric oxygen sessions > 5