Foramen Magnum Decompression and Duraplasty is Superior to Only Foramen Magnum Decompression in Chiari Malformation Type 1 Associated with Syringomyelia in Adults

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. PURPOSE: To compare surgical results of foramen magnum decompression with and without duraplasty in Chiari malformation type 1 (CM-1) associated syringomyelia (SM). OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: The optimal surgical treatment of CM-1 associated with SM is unclear. METHODS: Twenty-five cases of CM-1 with SM were included. There were 12 patients (48%) in the non-duraplasty group and 13 patients (52%) in the duraplasty group. The rate of improvement, state of postoperative SM size, amount of tonsillar herniation, preoperative symptom duration, complications and reoperation rates were analysed. RESULTS: The rate of clinical improvement was significantly higher with duraplasty (84.6%) than without (33.3%, p <0.05). The rate of postoperative syrinx regression was significantly higher in the duraplasty group (84.6%) than in the non-duraplasty group (33.3%, p <0.05). One case in the duraplasty group needed a reoperation compared with five cases in the non-duraplasty group (p =0.059). CONCLUSIONS: Duraplasty is superior to non-duraplasty in CM-1 associated with SM despite a slightly higher complication rate.

Comparison of efficacy of two surgical methods for Chiari anomalies with syringomyelia / 中国医师进修杂志

Objective To investigate the efficacy of foramen magnum decompression alone and foramen magnum decompression + Syrinx-shunt in the treatment of Chiari anomalies with syringomyelia.Methods Forty-nine Chiari anomalies with syringomyelia patients were selected,28 patients performed foramen magnum decompression alone (surgical method Ⅰ group),21 patients performed foramen magnum decompression + Syrinx-shunt (surgical method Ⅱ group).The treatment efficacy was evaluated by postoperative clinical effect and MRI review.Results In surgical method Ⅰ group,effective in 18 cases,invalid in 10 cases,the effective rate was 64.3％ (18/28).In surgical method Ⅱ group,effective in 19 cases,invalid in 2 cases,the effective rate was 90.5％(19/21).There was statistical difference (x2 =4.45,P =0.034).Conclusion Foramen magnum decompression + Syrinx-shunt is effective in the treatment of Chiari anomalies with syringomyelia,which is applicable for these patients and has a more precise consequence than foramen magnum decompression alone.

Chiari I Malformation Associated with Syringomyelia Treated with Foramen Magnum Decompression

The authors report two cases of Chiari I malformation associated with syringomyelia. The first is that of a 45-year-old woman with neck and shoulder pain and the other, a 24-year-old man with neck pain. In the former, MRI revealed caudal descent of the cerebellar tonsil to the C2 level and a large eccentric syrinx from the C2-T6 levels ; in the man, MRI showed caudal descent of the cerebellar tonsil to the C2 level and a large eccentric syrinx from the C2-T4 levels. We successfully treated these patients by foramen magnum decompression and duroplasty. Theories of Chiari I malformation associated with syringomyelia, as well as clinical signs and symptoms, and management techniques, are discussed.

Analysis on Surgical Outcome of Arnold-Chiari Malformation with Syringomyelia

The surgical outcomes of Arnold-Chiari malformation associated with syringomyelia have been reported with respect to improvement in symptoms and signs. But there are only a few studies about the changes of size in syrinx cavity after the era of magnetic resonance image. The authors employed two different surgical modalities and compared the difference in outcomes. Between 1988 and 1994, 17 patients suffering from Arnold-Chiari malformation associated with syringomyelia were treated by foramen magnum decompression(FMD), with or without shunt. Their ages ranged from 3 to 62 (median, 42) years; four were males and 13 were females. Eight were treated by FMD with syringosubarachnoid shunt (FMD with shunt group) and 9 by FMD only(FMD group). Changes in the extent of syrinx and clinical improvements were retrospectively compared between the two groups; the median follow-up period was 22(range 5-79) months. Changes in the extent of syrinx were analyzed by pre- and postoperative magnetic resonance images; improvements in symptoms or signs were classified by lower cranial nerves, the cerebellum and the spinal cord. The size of syrinx was decreased in 7/8 patients of FMD with shunt group(88%) and in 7/9 patients of FMD group (78%) and there was no significant difference in ratio statistically(p=0.54). Shrinkage of syrinx cavity was occurred regardless of its preoperative extent. In FMD with shunt group, 5/8 patients(63%) were improved in symptoms or signs and in FMD group, 6/9 patients(67%)(p=0.21). In all 3 cases which showed no collapse of syrinx cavity, the clinical improvements were not found. There was correlation between collapse of syringomyelia and improvement of clinical findings(p=0.035).

Whole-spinal Syringomyelia in a Pediatric Patient with Chiari Malformation Type 1

A case of whole-spinal syringomyelia in a pediatric patient with the Chiari malformation type 1 is reported. The patient manifested only acute weakness of the right lower extremities and showed dramatic improvement to normal range immediately after posterior fossa decompression. Comparative analysis was done for the serial size reduction in 3 dimensional magnetic resonance imaging . The literature was reviewed for the Chiari 1 malformation with syringomyelia.