NEUROPHYSIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF DIVERS WITH MEDICAL HISTORIES OF NEUROLOGICAL DECOMPRESSION ILLNESS

Objective-To examine the possibility that subclinical damage may persi st after clinical recovery from neurological decompression illness. Me thods-The neuraxes of 71 divers with medical histories of neurological decompression illness and 37 non-diver controls were examined by reco rding somatosensory evoked potentials produced on stimulation of the p osterior tibial and median nerves. Results-Although the tests gave som e objective support for the presence of soft'' residual neurological s ymptoms and signs, no evidence was given for the presence of subclinic al damage. Conclusions-The contention that neurological damage persist s after full clinical recovery from the neurological decompression ill ness was not supported.