Suboccipital decompressive surgery in cerebellar infarction

In a retrospective study 100 consecutive patients with cerebellar apoplexy were evaluated with regard to presenting symptoms, diagnostic and therapeutic strategies according to changes in the clinical condition of the patients. The results of decompressive suboccipital craniectomy in patients with a cerebellar infarction is also evaluated in this retrospective study as the valency from use the Glasgow-Coma-Score as prognostical factor and monitoring instrument in patients with a cerebellar stroke. Different therapeutic modalities were critically analyzed. Outcome was sgnificantly influenced by age (p = 0.003), localisation and size of the lesion (p = 0.004), space-occupying character on computed tomography (p < 0.001), the progressive appearance of brainstem dysfunction and reduction of the level of consciousness as measured with the Glasgow Coma Scale (p < 0.001). We were able to show that the GCS is a valid instrument for the evaluation of the clinical course of patients with cerebellar stroke since a statistically significant relationship exists between the GCS prior to surgical intervention and outcome. In patient with a GCS < 12 a reduction of mortality by 15% was obtained by surgical intervention and the outcome as measured by the GOS was significantly improved.