By: Jean-Paul Collet, Michel Vanasse, Pierre Marois, Maxime Amar, Joanne Goldberg, Jean Lambert, Maryse Lassonde, Paule Hardy, Josée Fortin, Stéphane D Tremblay, David Montgomery, Jacques Lacroix, Ann Robinson, Annette Majnemer, and the HBO-CP Research Group
Introduction
Cerebral palsy is a collection of diverse syndromes characterised by disorders of movement and posture caused by a non-progressive injury to the immature brain. There is no known cure. Hyperbaric oxygen has been used by several centres in the USA, UK, and Canada to treat children with cerebral palsy. The rationale for this intervention is increased oxygenation of the cerebral ischaemic penumbra. Reports of successful treatment have circulated among the families of children with cerebral palsy who have asked for this treatment despite the lack of scientific evidence of efficacy and possible sideeffects.