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Updated: Sep 10, 2025

Microvascular Decompression: Salient Surgical Principles and Technical Nuances
Published on: July 5, 2011
Mini-open exoscopic surgery for C1 restenosis 7 years after decompression of Chiari malformation type 1 with atlas
Yosuke Hashimoto1, Hisaaki Uchikado2, Yuko Baba3
1Department of Neurosurgery, Kurume University, Kurume, Japan.
Background:
Chiari malformation type 1 (CM1) associated with atlas assimilation (AA) is rarely encountered in children without syringomyelia. Here, a 13-year-old child underwent an original foramen magnum decompression (FMD) for a CM1. Seven years after the index surgery, at age 20, the patient required secondary surgery to address recurrent C1 stenosis attributed to CM1/AA performed without a duraplasty.
Case Description:
A 13-year-old child originally presented with headaches and CM1 and AA, for which he underwent a FMD without duraplasty. Seven years later, at the age of 20, he developed recurrent C1 stenosis attributed to dorsal bony proliferation of the lamina of the atlas. Following a secondary mini-open exoscopic decompression without duraplasty, he became asymptomatic.
Conclusion:
For patients with CM1 without syringomyelia, recurrent stenosis may be successfully managed with repeated mini-open exoscopic bony decompression.

