CEREBRAL PALSY

A new era of therapy is now developing around the world for the treatment of neurologically disabled children. In the United Kingdom, there is a charity for CP (cerebral palsy) and the TBI (traumatic brain injury) child utilizing HBO (hyperbaric oxygen). After a successful study at McGill University, a new trial employing HBO for children with CP is beginning at the Colombian Presbyterian.

This alternative therapy is hyperbaric oxygenation, or the use of greater than normal atmospheric pressure to deliver a high dosage of oxygen. This form of therapy corrects lack of oxygen not just in the blood, but in the tissues as well. This results in an increase of oxygen to the brain.

This is crucial for patients with CP because in CP cases, there are areas of decreased blood flow and metabolism to the brain. When using HBO therapy, more oxygen reaches the cells thereby restoring blood flow to the brain. This is what holds encouraging hope for patients with CP and TBI.

HBO therapy reduces any pressure within the brain caused by swelling, restoring the functions of the blood brain barrier and cell membrane. It neutralizes toxic products in the brain, and over a period of time, enhances growth of new blood vessels. It also acts as a scavenger of free radicals and promotes internal cleaning of debris.

Also, HBO reduces the stickiness of blood products (white blood cells and platelets), and makes oxygen available for use without energy transfer (when the hemoglobin carries oxygen, it requires energy to deliver to the tissue spaces). With HBO, the free oxygen is available immediately for metabolic use.

Previous reasons for not giving oxygen to hypoxic (low oxygen) neonate or premature babies is that surface oxygen was thought to cause a type of blindness called retrolental fibroplasia. Recent uncovered data indicates that this is not true. The use of hyperbaric oxygen does NOT produce this effect. It is the withdrawal of the infant from the oxygen environment that causes the problem. Repeated sessions with oxygen have actually cured the situation.

Theoretically, the use of HBO therapy in CP, TBI, and in the very young will actually give the brain a jump-start. It also provides an ideal internal environment for the growth of new brain tissue.

New techniques with brain imaging, especially SPECT (single-photon emission-computed tomography) clearly show the functional status of the brain at a point an time. One hundred percent oxygen is administered to children in small sequential doses of 1.5 ATA (about 18 feet below sea level), for one hour, up to two times a day depending on the response. Sequential SPECT scan testing not only measures blood flow, but also metabolism. Such data has been useful in determining the dose of HBO. As the SPECT scans improve, so do the children. There is about a 90% correlation.

More recent innovations include the use of human growth hormone and alphalearning, which is a composite of biofeedback, audio-visual, and EEG brain balancing technique.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is not a miracle cure for children with cerebral palsy; it is simply a way of ensuring the most complete recovery possible. It should be used with exercise programs, because lack of use in muscles and joints leads to changes that can only be reversed by exercise. All modalities of speech, occupational and physical therapy, biofeedback, and herbal remedies (depending on the age) are also utilized as a multi disciplinary brain repair regime.