Possibly the first thing to take into account once you make a decision on surgery is that the surgery is not a "cure" for chiari.  It can eleveate some of the symptoms, but it may also make some symptoms worse or even give you new symptoms you did not have prior to surgery.

The surgery sounds more complicated than it actually is.  An incision will be cut down the back of the head and neck. A small area of the bone at the base of the skull is removed to enlarge the posterior fossa. The area is opened to expose the membrane covering the brain called the dura. An incision will probably be made in the dura to see the cerebellum and upper spinal cord. The cerebellar tonsils are shrunk using a tiny instrument, called the electrocautery. A dura patch may be used to cover the area that is now enlarged to 'house' the cerebellum.  The skin will then be stitched up and the patient is sent to recovery.  You may need to remain in hospital for about 5 days.  When you are sent home you will have to take things easy. 

 

After Surgery

I know I was told things could go wrong but never thought they could happen to me - they can happen.  I feel alot went wrong for me following the surgery that maybe the doctors couldn't have warned me about.  Things can go wrong after this surgery, they can go wrong after any surgery.  Although complications are not that common they can occur, some complications that may occur are:-

• infection - the wound may become infected or you may have an infection in the spinal fluid.
• meningitis, it is possible that you may contract aseptic or bacterial meningitis following surgery.
• nerve damage
• the dura patch that the surgeon has used may produce an infection or leak.  The leak will be a spinal fluid leak - this may be obvious tot he patient as it will be clear fluid leaking from the wound area.  it may also be raised lumps and bumps on or around the incision site - this may be a bluid up of fluid.  (I personally had a CSF leak 2 weeks post op, a week after my stitches were removed - clear fluid was coming out of my wound).
• hydrocephalus/raised intercranial pressure - although hydrocephalus has been mentioned as a condition that can occur in line with chiari it can also occur as a result of surgery.  The formation of scar tissue from the surgery and the surgery itself may increase the intercranial pressure leading to hydrocephalus.
• the surgery may make your symptoms worse or present new symptoms.
• there may be complications from the anaesthetic which may cause problems.

Please see the surgery gallery for real photos of "the scar".

 

If you have any questions about the surgery or the complications you should speak to your surgeon.