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Background: Sports diving is a popular recreational activity. Sports divers presenting with acute decompression sickness may exhibit residual neurologic and neuropsychological symptoms during follow-up, in spite of appropriate treatment., Material and Methods: A retrospective review of medical records was carried out for sports divers admitted to the department of neurology at Haukeland University Hospital during 1997., Results: 11 out of 20 divers experienced residual neurological symptoms after treatment. Five responded poorly to treatment, with 50% or more residual clinical score. These patients tended to be older, had performed deeper dives, and more repetitive diving. Seven divers had increased slow wave activity in EEG on initial recording, in two the EEG changes persisted after treatment., Interpretation: In this small series of sports divers with decompression sickness and arterial gas embolism, most neurologic symptoms responded to hyperbaric treatment. However, more than one half of the divers had residual neurological symptoms on discharge. Sensory loss and asymmetrical reflexes were the most common residual findings.

Background: Spasticity is often seen in patients with central nervous lesions. Some patients with severe spasticity are not optimally treated with physiotherapy and medication., Material and Methods: We present a case history of a 41-year-old woman with multiple sclerosis and severe painful spasticity in her lower limbs. Her spasticity did not respond to treatment with physiotherapy, spasmolytic medication, botulinum toxin A, intrathecal baclofen or epidural spinal cord stimulation., Result: The patient was treated with selective posterior rhizotomy S1-L1. Section of 60% of the rootlets on the right side and 40% on left the side resulted in a good outcome with less spasticity and pain. Finally her contractures were treated with tenotomy and myotomy, also with good functional result., Interpretation: Patients suffering from severe painful spasticity and who do not respond to physiotherapy in combination with other spasmolytic medication should be considered for surgical treatment. In some patients posterior rhizotomy is the treatment of choice.