Which type of medical professional is most likely to treat decompression sickness?

A hyperbaric medical specialist is most likely to treat decompression sickness because this condition is often a result of changes in pressure, typically affecting divers who ascend too quickly, leading to nitrogen bubbles forming in their tissues. Hyperbaric specialists are trained in the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which is the primary treatment for decompression sickness. This therapy involves placing patients in a hyperbaric chamber where they breathe pure oxygen at increased atmospheric pressure. This treatment helps reduce the size of nitrogen bubbles, enhances oxygen delivery to tissues, and promotes healing.

Other medical professionals, while they may be capable of providing initial care or managing related complications, generally do not have the specialized training required to effectively treat decompression sickness as a hyperbaric specialist does. General practitioners may provide basic care or referrals, otolaryngologists focus on ear, nose, and throat issues which may tangentially relate to diving, and neurosurgeons deal with neurological issues, but none possess the focused expertise in hyperbaric medicine necessary for specialized treatment of decompression sickness.