COAGULATION OF HERNIATED CEREBELLAR TONSILS FOR CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID PATHWAY RESTORATION

In the past, many different surgical techniques have been proposed for treatment of the Chiari type I malformation. Despite the different te chnical considerations, in general, the treatment objectives have shar ed certain features: to prevent/ameliorate tonsillar crowding and to r estore normal circulation of cerebrospinal fluid at the foramen magnum . We report a simple technique of coagulation of the herniated cerebel lar tonsils in situ to decompress adjacent neural structures and to ac hieve the above-mentioned goals. When compared to the method of tonsil lar resection, the procedure described herein affords the following tw o advantages: it is relatively less time-consuming and is more hemosta tic. These two features minimize inflammation-mediate morbidity which may occur during the postoperative period.