The role of intraoperative neuromonitoring in adults with Chiari I malformation

The application of intraoperative neuromonitoring (INM) during surgery of the cervical spine and spinal cord has been well documented [8,11]. In contrast, the use of INM during surgeries for Chiari malformations remains controversial. Chiari Type I malformations involve herniation of the cerebellar tonsils through the Foramen magnum, and suboccipital decompression with duraplasty is a well-established treatment [10]. Up to 60% of patients with Chiari malformation additionally harbor a cervical syringomyelia with some of these suffer from concomitant hydrocephalus, and a substantial number of therefore present altered electrophysiological parameters and concomitant symptoms before surgery [10,12,14].
Source: Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery - Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Source Type: research