title: Coagulation of herniated cerebellar tonsils for cerebrospinal fluid pathway restoration.
abstract: In the past, many different surgical techniques have been proposed for treatment of the Chiari type I malformation. Despite the different technical considerations, in general, the treatment objectives have shared certain features: to prevent/ameliorate tonsillar crowding and to restore normal circulation of cerebrospinal fluid at the foramen magnum. We report a simple technique of coagulation of the herniated cerebellar tonsils in situ to decompress adjacent neural structures and to achieve the above-mentioned goals. When compared to the method of tonsillar resection, the procedure described herein affords the following two advantages: it is relatively less time-consuming and is more hemostatic. These two features minimize inflammation-mediated morbidity which may occur during the postoperative period.
authors.affiliation: Loma Linda University Children's Hospital, Calif 92354, USA.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Won
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Nambiar
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Muszynski
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Epstein
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001139:Arnold-Chiari Malformation / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000601:surgery*; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male