Decompression sickness is commonly divided into two types on the basis of the severity of clinical signs. The manifestations of Type Ⅱ decompression sickness are more serious and those involving the central nervous system. Patients with spinal cord injury in Type Ⅱ decompression sickness, were assigned a neurological level of injury, severity of injury, and level of ambulation. Among the 46 cases of Type II decompression sickness, spinal cord involvements were present in 69.6%(n=32:27 males, 5 females; mean age=33.5 years). Fourteen(43.8%) subjects had neurological level of injury to the lower thoracic cord. 7(21.9%) cervical cord, 5 midthoracic cord, 3 upper thoracic cord, and 3 subjects were injury level to the lumbar cord. The degree of incompleteness as reflected in the Frankel grades of incompleteness showed that 15(46.9%) subjects were Frankel D, 8 Frankel C, 8 Frankel E, 1 Frankel B, and none was Frankel A. We paid particular attention to ambulation level. Functional community walker was recorded in 24(75.0%) subjects, functional household walker in 6(18.8%) and 2(6.3%) subjects remained nonfunctional walker.

Keywords :Decompression sickness, Type II, Spinal cord injury