Don't leave your recovery to chance. Use these 10 questions to vet your neurosurgeon during your consultation.
Patient: __________________________ | Date: ________________
01. How many Chiari decompressions do you perform per year?
Look for a surgeon who treats Chiari as a specialty, not just an occasional case.
02. Based on my Cine MRI, where exactly is my CSF flow restricted?
A specialist should be able to point to the blockage on your imaging discs.
03. What is your specific technique (Bone only vs. Duraplasty)?
04. If you use a duraplasty, what material do you use for the patch?
Common materials include bovine, synthetic, or your own tissue (autologous).
05. Do you cauterize (shrink) the cerebellar tonsils as part of your protocol?
06. What are your personal rates for post-op CSF leaks?
07. How long do you expect the hospital stay to be, and what is your pain management plan?
08. What are the lifting and activity restrictions for the first 6 weeks?
09. Do you check for comorbid conditions like hEDS, CCI, or Tethered Cord before surgery?
Treating Chiari without checking for instability can lead to poor surgical outcomes.
10. What does a "successful" outcome look like to you?
Ensure your definition of success (symptom relief) matches theirs (imaging results).
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