Plastic repairing of the cistern magna to treat the Chiari malformation complicated with syringomyelia

Abstract

Objective To evaluate retrospectively the efficacy of cistema magna plastic repair in the treatment of Chiari malformation complicated with syringomyelia Methods Fifty-one patients suffered from Chiari malformation complicated with syringomyelia were treated in our department from May 2004 to October 2009. Seventeen patients received cistema magna plastic repairment (the decompression of posterior cranial fossa, duraplastic repair,resection of hernia below cerebellar tonsil and separation of adherence of arachnoid membrane). Results Clinical symptoms disappeared or improved in 15 cases (effective rate of 90%). MRI showed tonsillar herniation disappeared,syringomyelia narrow. MRI showed cistema magna plastic repair, syringomyelia disappeared or significantly thinned and spinal cord subarachnoid space widened. Effective treatment obtained in 12 cases (effective rate 70%). Conclusions The efficiency of Cistern magna plastic repair treating Chiari malformation with syringomyelia is satisfied. Key words: Chiari malformation; Syringomyelia; Tonsilectomy; Cistema magna