Went to Dr. Burson today for a 2nd opinion NS appointment... Went really well, I feel really comfortable with him and his knowledge of chiari.
He suggested a full spine (lumbar/thoracic) MRI so will have that done tomorrow. I asked about a CINE MRI and he said he sees no point in it bc he can clearly see I have blockage where the tonsils herniate past the foram magnum.
He suggest I have surgery but said he won't push it UNLESS MRI tomorrow shows a syrinx.
Question is... He said he does not cut the dura and expose the brain, what he does is... There is 2 layers to the dura, he peels away one layer and very lightly thins the 2nd so the brain is still protected but this leaves the dura able to expand. He says this lowers the risk tremendously, mainly infection to brain or spinal cord, stroke, meningitis, etc. Lowers hospital stay from 4-5 days down to 2.5 days.
Said he's been doing this way for the past 10 years and done it hundreds and hundreds of times and can count on one hand the people that had complications and all was just the need of a repeat surgery.
So what do y'all think, every other surgery I read about talked about removing or opening dura and replacing with a graft?