Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Effect on Post Concussion Syndrome in Children (TBIPED)

Application of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Children Suffering From Prolonged Post-Concussion Syndrome Due to Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Due its high incidence, mTBI and its consequences of PPCS are a major public health issue. There is no consensus regarding the treatment of PPCS in pediatrics. Relying on its results in adults, HBOT offers a promising new direction of treatment, which targets the basic pathological processes responsible for post-concussion symptoms.

The effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in pediatric TBI has never been evaluated.

The aim of the current study is to evaluate in a prospective cross-over, randomized study, the effect of HBOT on children with PPCS due to mild TBI.

Study Overview

• Status: Terminated
• Conditions: Traumatic Brain Injury; Post-Concussion Syndrome; Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy; Device: Normobaric air SHAM

Detailed Description

The study is designed as a prospective, randomized, controlled, cross-over two groups trial. The study will be conducted in the -Sagol center for hyperbaric medicine and research and the children neurological unit of Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Israel. Brain MRIs evaluation will be done the radiology department of Assaf-Harofeh Medical Center, Israel.

Study will include 70 patients After signing the informed consent (signed by the parents), patients will undergo computerized cognitive tests using the computerized Neurotrax and Moxo cognitive batteries. Patients who fulfill inclusion criteria will be included in the study.

After signing informed consent (by parents, at the prescreening phase), patients who fill inclusion criteria, will be randomized in 1:1 manner into the treated or the control-cross group. Randomization will be performed using a computer software according to patient id. After the randomization, patients will be invited for baseline evaluation that will include full review of their medical status and complete physical examination.

All patients will go through evaluation of their neurocognitive function using further neurocognitive testing battery, questionnaires and brain imaging (perfusion MRI+DTI, SPECT). In cases of brain tumors, skull base tumors, encephalomalacia findings in MRI, patients will be excluded.

The patients in the treated group will be evaluated three time - at baseline, after 3 months of HBOT treatment and after another consequent 3 months period from treatment (6 months from baseline). The patients of the cross group will be evaluated three times as well- at baseline, after 3 month control period without hyperbaric treatment and after a consequent 3 month period of HBOT treatment.

The following HBOT treatment protocol will be practiced: The patients will go through 60 HBOT treatments (each treatment session will be given on a separate day), distributed over three months (five days a week). Each session will be for 60 minutes in 100% oxygen atmosphere and at pressure of 1.5 ATA.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 52
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Israel
  • Ẕerifin, Israel, 70300
    • Assaf-Harofeh Medical Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 8 years to 16 years (Child)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• - Ages 8-15
• Mild TBI (defined as loss of consciousness with duration of 0-30 minutes, post-traumatic amnesia with duration of less than 24 hours, Glasgow Coma Scale grade of 13-15) within 6 months-3 years prior to the inclusion in the study.
• Moderate TBI -Patients with a GCS of 9-12 a as well as additional criteria such as CT abnormalities and admission to hospital
• Presence of at least two PCS as measured by the Post-Concussion Symptom Inventory )see attached) (there's a RCT now recruitingwith at least 1 and not 2) for at least 3 months.
• No change in cognitive or behavioral functions during one month prior to the beginning of the study (according to parents/teachers report).

Screening protocol:

After signing the informed consent (signed by the parents), patients will undergo computerized cognitive tests using the computerized Neurotrax in patients over 10, and standard pen and paper cognitive tests in patients under 10. Patients who fulfill inclusion criteria will be included in the study.

Inclusion criteria:

- Objective cognitive impairment: a decrease of at least 1 standard deviation (SD) from same age mean score in one or more of the following indices : memory, attention, information processing speed, executive functions in both Neurotrax

Exclusion Criteria:

• - Dynamic neurologic improvement or worsening during the past month (according to parents/teachers report);
• Had been treated with HBOT for any other reason prior to their inclusion;
• Chest pathology incompatible with pressure changes (including asthma)
• Inner ear disease;
• Claustrophobia;
• Inability to perform awake brain MRI test
• Previous neurologic conditions (eg. Epilepsy, neuromuscular diseases, metabolic diseases, etc.)
• Brain tumors
• Skull base fractures
• Active malignancy
• s/p neurosurgery that included: ventricular drainage, subdural hematomas drainage, epidural hematomas drainage, intracerebral hemorrhage evacuation. Depressed fracture surgery, won't be excluded.
• Encephalomalacia per MRI imaging
• No informed consent

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: Quadruple

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy; 60 Hyperbaric oxygen sessions in a multiplace hyperbaric chamber (HAUX-Life-Support GmbH). each session 1.5 ATA of 100% oxygen for 1 hour. 1 meter per minute compression and decompression.	Device: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy; 60 HBOT sessions at 2 ATA 100% oxygen
Sham Comparator: Normobaric air SHAM; 60 sessions in a multiplace hyperbaric chamber (HAUX-Life-Support GmbH). Each session at 1 ATA of 21% oxygen (air) for 1 hour. 1 meter per minute compression and decompression. after 3 months, patients will be crossed over and treated with 60 sessions of treatment	Device: Normobaric air SHAM; 60 sessions at 1 ATA 21% oxygen (air)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Cognitive function	General,Attention, Memory, Executive functions, Visual spatial and Verbal memory indices Index (scale 0-100) will be measured using the computerized standardized Neurotrax battery test. Each of above cognitive indices is computed as a normalized combined score of 2-3 cognitive tests. (At baseline, this battery will be conducted as part of the screening in patients over 10).	at 3 months
Cognitive function	General,Attention, Memory, Executive functions, Visual spatial and Verbal memory indices Index (scale 0-100) will be measured using the computerized standardized Neurotrax battery test. Each of above cognitive indices is computed as a normalized combined score of 2-3 cognitive tests. (At baseline, this battery will be conducted as part of the screening in patients over 10).	at 6 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Post concussion syndrome symptoms	Patients and their parents will fill questionaries' Postconcussion Symptom Inventory (PCSI) (scale 0-21) at baseline and at their second and/or third evaluations	baseline, 3 months and 6 months from baseline
Health Behaviour inventory	Patients and their parents will fill questionaries' Health Behaviour inventory (scale 50-200) at baseline and at their second and/or third evaluations	baseline, 3 months and 6 months from baseline
Balance	Patients will undergo balance tests (BERG Balance Scale) (scale 0-56) at each of the evaluations	baseline, 3 months and 6 months from baseline
Brain functional imaging	Patients will undergo photon emission tomography (PET-CT) using FDG at each of the three evaluations	baseline, 3 months
Brain microstructural imaging	Imaging will be conducted in using a 3 Tesla system (Siemens, Germany). The MRI protocol includes the following sequences: Axial T1, T2, FLAIR, Axial Diffusion weighted, Axial T1-PostGadollinium , dynamic contrast enhancement (DSC), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)	baseline, 3 months and 6 months from baseline
Brain perfusion	Imaging will be conducted in using a 3 Tesla system (Siemens, Germany). The MRI protocol includes the following sequences: Axial T1, T2, FLAIR, Axial Diffusion weighted, Axial T1-PostGadollinium , dynamic contrast enhancement (DSC), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)	baseline, 3 months and 6 months from baseline
Brain network analysis	Patients will undergo resting state EEG as well as EEG during performing cognitive tasks ,using a 64 electrodes cap.	baseline, 3 months and 6 months from baseline
Behaviour	The parents and their teachers will complete the following questionnaire at baseline and at their second and/or third evaluations. The rating scales are available for parent (Conners 3-P), teacher (Conners 3-T) and self-report (Conners 3-SR).Subscales include inattention, hyperactivity/impulsivity, learning, executive functioning, aggression and peer relations, as well as subscales mapping onto DSM-IV criteria for ADHD (inattentive), ADHD (hyperactive-impulsive), ADHD combined, Conduct Disorder, and Oppositional-Defiant Disorder. Means and standard deviations for the global index vary dependent on age (for 6 year-olds the mean is 5.15 with a standard deviation of 3.97; means for 17 to 18 year-olds are 3.90 with a standard deviation of 4.00). Raw scores are usually converted to T-scores or percentile scores relative to normative data. T-scores above 60 (percentiles above 84) are considered clinically significant.	baseline, 3 months and 6 months from baseline
Executive functions	The parents and their teachers will complete the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function(BRIEF) questionnaire at baseline and at their second and/or third evaluations. he Global Executive Composite (GEC) is an overarching summary score that incorporates all of the BRIEF clinical scales. The possible range of scores for teachers is 0 to 24.	baseline, 3 months and 6 months from baseline
Short form health survey (PedsQL)	Patients and their parents will complete questionnaires Pediatric Quality of Life inventory (PedsQL) - multi-dimensional concept that includes domains related to physical, mental, emotional, and social functioning.	baseline, 3 months and 6 months from baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Assaf-Harofeh Medical Center
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Shai a Efrati, MD, Asaf-Harofhe MC

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 1, 2017
• Primary Completion (Actual): November 1, 2021
• Study Completion (Actual): May 20, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 22, 2017
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 7, 2017
• First Posted (Actual): November 13, 2017

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 22, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 19, 2026
• Last Verified: April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: pediatrics; TBI; traumatic brain injury; hyperbaric oxygen; concussion; HBOT; PCS; PPCS
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Wounds and Injuries; Craniocerebral Trauma; Trauma, Nervous System; Head Injuries, Closed; Wounds, Nonpenetrating; Brain Injuries; Brain Injuries, Traumatic; Brain Concussion; Post-Concussion Syndrome; Therapeutics; Respiratory Therapy; Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; Hyperbaric Oxygenation
• Other Study ID Numbers: 0120-16-ASF

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No