Annual Diving Report - Divers Alert Network

3. DIVE INJURIES
treat fewer than 10 cases per year making it difficult for clinicians to acquire significant diagnostic
experience. Because hyperbaric treatment is generally benign, many divers are treated for
uncertain indications when DCS or AGE appears possible. The SERF and MSCC allow treating
physicians to express their diagnostic confidence. Figure 3.1-3 shows the treating physician
judged the diagnosis to be confident for only two-thirds to three-quarters of treated patients.
Diagnostic Confidence
(Percent of Group)
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
DCS
AGE
Confident Likely Possible Doubtful
Figure 3.1-3 Confidence in DCS and AGE diagnoses.
3.2 Diver Characteristics Associated with Injuries
Age. The mean age of the divers in our injury population was 39 years, slightly younger than the
mean age of 43 years in PDE divers. Figure 3.2-1 shows the distribution of age (in groups of 11.3
years) and indicates that some injured divers continued to dive well into the ninth decade.
Frequency of Age Group
160
120
80
40
0
13.1 24.4 35.6 46.9 58.1 69.4 80.6 91.9
Median Age of Group (years)
Figure 3.2-1 Diver age groups.
34 Annual Diving Report: 2006 Edition