Signs and Symptoms
While bubbles can form anywhere in the body, DCS is most frequently observed in the shoulders, elbows, knees, and ankles. Joint pain ("the bends") accounts for about 60% to 70% of all altitude DCS cases, with the shoulder being the most common site. Neurological symptoms are present in 10% to 15% of DCS cases with headache and visual disturbances the most common symptom. Skin manifestations are present in about 10% to 15% of cases. Pulmonary DCS ("the chokes") is very rare in divers and has been observed much less frequently in aviators since the introduction of oxygen pre-breathing protocols. The table below shows symptoms for different DCS types.
DCS type | Bubble location | Signs & symptoms (clinical manifestations) |
---|---|---|
Musculoskeletal | Mostly large joints
(elbows, shoulders, hip, wrists, knees, ankles) |
|
Cutaneous | Skin |
|
Neurologic | Brain |
|
Neurologic | Spinal cord |
|
Constitutional | Whole body |
|
Audiovestibular | Inner ear |
|
Pulmonary | Lungs |
|
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